South East proves popular region to move to

The South East was the most popular region for people to move to between 1996 and 2006 with 2.5 million arrivals from elsewhere in the UK, according to research from the Halifax.

However, the South East also recorded the second highest number of people leaving to live in another UK region. Overall, the South East experienced a net gain from internal migration of 384,000; the second biggest of the 12 UK regions.

South West has received the biggest boost from internal migration over the past decade

The South West experienced the largest net gain from internal migration during the past decade. Over 440,000 more people have moved to the South West from elsewhere in the UK than have left to live in another region, boosting the region's population by 9%.

Nearly two and a half million have left the capital to live elsewhere in the UK since 1996

Although the population of London is still growing, 2.4 million people have left London to live elsewhere in the UK during the past ten years. As a result, London recorded, by a significant margin, the greatest net loss from internal migration (608,000) of any region. Northern Ireland was the only other region to experience a net loss.

But……London recorded the single biggest population increase over the last decade

The decline due to internal migration, however, was more than offset by the arrival of one million people to London from abroad over the past decade. Overall, London's population has risen by 538,000 over the last ten years. This was the biggest increase of any region.

Only the North East saw an overall population decline between 1996 and 2006

The total population in the North East fell by 20,000 over the ten years to 2006. Populations increased in all other regions with the South East (438,000) and South West (331,000) experiencing the biggest increases behind London.

Internal population changes helping to drive regional housing demand

The substantial net gain from internal migration has been a significant factor behind the rapid rise in house prices in the South West over the last ten years. The average price in the South West has increased by 206% during this period – a rise that is surpassed only by Northern Ireland and London.

East Riding's population gets the biggest lift from net internal migration

East Riding of Yorkshire has recorded the biggest net gain from internal migration of all the local authorities in England and Wales over the past eight years. 25,300 more people have moved to the East Riding from elsewhere in England and Wales than have left the area to live elsewhere in England and Wales (112,000 against 87,000). East Lindsey in Lincolnshire recorded the second largest increase in net internal migration (15,400) over the period.

Coastal areas have seen the biggest increases in net internal migration

Sixteen of the 20 local authorities with the highest levels of net internal migration since 1997/98 are coastal areas, suggesting that people are moving in large numbers to enjoy the benefits of living near the sea.

City areas have seen the biggest falls in net internal migration

Birmingham, the UK's second largest city recorded the biggest decline in net internal migration (-61,000), followed by the London boroughs of Newham (-51,800) and Brent (-51,100). Nineteen of the 20 local authorities experiencing the biggest net drop in internal migration in England and Wales are in major English cities, including fifteen London boroughs.

Birmingham records both the highest inflow and outflow of people to any local authority area

Nearly a quarter of a million people (220,000) have moved to Birmingham since 1997/98, the highest internal inflow of people to any local authority in England and Wales. Birmingham also recorded the highest outflow of people (281,000).

Main cities record large inflows and outflows from other areas

Seven of the ten local authorities with the highest number of internal immigrants also feature among the ten local authorities with the largest number of people emigrating to other parts of the UK. These include many of the largest cities in England and Wales, including Birmingham, London, Manchester and Leeds. These figures highlight the transient nature of the population in many of our major cities.

Martin Ellis, Halifax chief economist, said: "The South East and South West have been the most popular destinations for people to move to from elsewhere in the UK over the past decade. In particular, the high level of migration to the South West has contributed to the rapid rise in house prices in the region in the last ten years.

Figures at a local authority level highlight the transient nature of the population in many of the UK's major cities. Birmingham, for example, recorded both the highest level of immigration and emigration in England and Wales."