These are the cities with the biggest generational divide
The gap between the old and young is growing across the country as the high cost of buying a home divides the generations – literally.
The generations are becoming increasingly segregated, a new study has found, with Cardiff and Brighton named the cities with the biggest divide between young adults and retirees. London was ranked the sixteenth most segregated city.
The research by Intergenerational Foundation (IF) and Legal and General identified house prices as a leading cause of the divide, with young people limited to rental properties in urban areas while over 50s are able to afford leafy suburban homes.
Read more:
The think tank found that in 1991, just 65 locations in Britain had more than half of its population aged over 50. By 2014, the latest figures available, found that had risen to 485 with 60 per cent of these areas rural ones, while rural areas were found to be ageing more quickly than urban areas.
“We have created an intergenerationally unfair society. We need to take bold steps to reverse the negative trends of the last thirty years," said chief executive of Legal and General Nigel Wilson.
"This will involve not only an increase in housing supply of 100,000 a year of all tenures , but also a step up in investment in modern infrastructure and modern industries to create the jobs of the future. Legal and General will continue to step up and we are encouraged by the positive signals of intent from the new Government."
[infographic id="904"]
Homes specifically built for older people downsizing, giving up greenbelt land to build new homes and encouraging mixed developemtns are some of the measures the group has called for in the report, in addition to building new homes.
Read more: The definitive list of the 25 MBAs with the best-paid graduates
"Across England and Wales, on average, just five per cent of the people living in the same neighbourhood as someone under 18 are over 65, compared to 15 per cent in 1991," said Angus Hanton, co-founder of IF.
"This is hugely damaging to intergenerational relations. It weakens the bonds between the generations, and leads to a lack of understanding of, and empathy for, other generations.”