Migration to Cornwall led by search for a better lifestyle rather than work, study shows

People are more likely move to Cornwall in search of a better lifestyle or to be nearer family than to work or start a business, a major new survey shows.

The environment, proximity of loved ones and retirement have been motivations for moving. Work or business have not been prioritised in the same way.

The study shows how the affordability of housing remains a critical issue for people living in the Duchy, particularly for renters and lower-income households.

The research, by Professor Malcolm Williams and Dr Amina Ghezal, from the Institute of Cornish Studies, University of Exeter, was carried out with support from Cornwall Council. Almost 1,000 people living in both recently-built and older housing took part in the survey.  The study compared characteristics and attitudes of those living in housing built in the last ten years, with those living in housing built ten years ago or more.

The data shows that households moving to Cornwall from outside the Duchy, living in both older and newer housing, are more likely to be economically inactive (43 per cent), than those relocating within Cornwall (25.5 per cent), while internal movers are more likely to be in work (74.5 per cent vs 57 per cent).

Those moving to Cornwall from outside the area are more likely to work from home full-time (36 per cent) compared to those moving within Cornwall (21 per cent).

Almost a third of respondents cited family-related reasons for moving into Cornwall, and 20 per cent said they were motivated by the environment. Retirement was the third most significant reason, with 12 per cent identifying it as their key factor. Affordability and housing were deemed important by 8 per cent, while lifestyle and change accounted for 7 per cent. Job-related reasons (6 per cent) and health and wellbeing (4.5 per cent) were less commonly noted.

People living in housing built less than ten years ago were less likely to own their property outright and those identifying as Cornish are less likely to be owner-occupiers.

People aged 65 and older were much more likely to live in older properties.

Sixty-six per cent of all household moves by those who took part in the study had been living in Cornwall for up to ten years. Of those who moved into Cornwall, 32 per cent moved from London or the South East and 31 per cent from the South West. There was little difference between new and older properties.

Households that moved to Cornwall from outside the region were more likely to have nobody in work (43 per cent) compared with those who moved within Cornwall (25.5 per cent).

The survey shows when moving:

• Most respondents (64 per cent) considered environmental quality as “most important”
• 41 per cent deemed rejoining family as “most important,” while 22 per cent rated it as “least important.”
• Over half of the respondents (55 per cent) rated job opportunities as “least important” in their decision to move
• Having a bigger house was a lower priority for respondents – only 13.5 per cent said it was “most important”
• Starting a business had limited appeal, with 78 per cent rating it as “least important” and only 4 per cent considering it “very important.”
• Retirement was seen as “most important” by 41 per cent of respondents, while 29 per cent considered it “least important”.