More than one in ten Sussex households have no garden, new analysis shows

During the lockdown, access to outdoor space has never been more valued.
More than one in ten households have no access to outside spaceMore than one in ten households have no access to outside space
More than one in ten households have no access to outside space

But more than one in ten households across Sussex (12%) do not have access to a private or shared garden.

Across Great Britain, this increases to one in eight households.

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That is according to a new report published yesterday by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which conducted an analysis of Ordnance Survey map data.

The report, which looked at access to gardens, parks and playing fields across Britain, found large regional and local differences.

The analysis also found racial and occupational disparities, with people from minority ethnic groups and those working in manual occupations less likely to have access to a private garden.

Which areas of Sussex are most likely to have a garden?

Analysis of the report shows that households in Crawley are the most likely to have a garden in Sussex (91% of households).

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This is followed by Chichester and Adur (both 90%), and Mid Sussex, Horsham, Hastings and Lewes (89%).

Meanwhile 87% of households in Worthing and Brighton and Hove have a garden, with Eastbourne at the bottom of the list at 86%.

Houses with gardens

The report also considers different property types.

Analysis shows that more than 95% of Sussex residents who lives in houses have access to a private or shared garden – however the average size of gardens in each district varies significantly.

House-dwellers in Chichester have, on average, the biggest gardens in Sussex (662.6m2) followed by Horsham (640.4m2) and Mid Sussex (501.8m2).

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These are all higher than the average garden size in Great Britain, which is 332.7m2.

Houses in Crawley have, one average, the smallest gardens in Sussex at just (202m2).

Flats with gardens

However when it comes to flats, residents are less likely to have access to private outdoor space.

People who lives in flats in Hastings were the most likely to have outdoor space (78%), followed by Brighton and Hove (77%) and Chichester (74%).

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Meanwhile only 60% of residents in Lewes and Adur who live in flats have access to a garden.

Easing of restrictions

Lockdown restrictions have been eased in England, with people now able to sunbathe or relax in public.

A spokesperson for the UK Government said: “We know that spending time in green spaces can support health and wellbeing.

“Our updated guidance means that people can now spend more time outdoors in parks and open spaces and enjoy a wider range of outdoor activities for any length of time, subject to social distancing.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

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