British rural settlements in the hinterland of conurbations: a classification

Various techniques of cluster analysis are applied to 125 civil parishes in southern Hampshire and 55 civil parishes in southern Staffordshire. Despite the differing infrastructure, the analysis identifies within both a similar spectrum of settlements defined by size, tenancy,and age structure: small Established villages with a high proportion of tied and rented property, a high percentage of village workers and typically an old age profile; large Metropolitan villages which are dominated by owner occupied property, and possessing a younger age profile and a high proportion of commuters; and between these two extremes, Uniform villages, which are average in size with a tenure system balanced between tied and privately rented, local authority, and owner occupied property, some commuters and a balanced or slightly older than average age profile. Concludes that owing to the current planning policy of both these counties, such a spectrum is likely to remain relatively stable. -from Authors