Midlothian named fastest growing area in Scotland

Midlothian has been confirmed as the fastest growing area in Scotland, in National Records of Scotland figures published last week.

Aerial shot of Straiton retail park

Most areas of Scotland are seeing an increase in the number of households, with Midlothian being the highest at 16 per cent. Only four of the 32 local authority areas of the country are projected to show a decrease – Argyll & Bute, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and the Western Isles (Na-h Eileanan Siar).

An increase of five per cent in the number of households in Scotland is projected by 2028, equivalent to an additional 12,000 households a year. Around 140,000 men aged 65 or over are likely to be living alone by 2028, nearly a quarter more than in 2018 and at a more rapid rate of growth than that for women of this age.

Sandy Taylor, Head of Household Statistics said: “Scotland’s population is ageing – the number of people aged 65 and over is significantly increasing. This is driving a shift towards a larger number of both smaller and older households, with those of someone aged 85 or over likely to increase by just over 20 per cent in the period to 2028.”