Canley place based profile

Why is this important?

The quality of the built and natural environment, such as the local neighbourhoods, access to local shops, services, parks and green spaces, affect the health and wellbeing of everyone.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

Data from the Coventry Household Survey 2022 indicates that most people are satisfied with their local area as a place to live. According to the Household Survey 2022, 74% of respondents from Canley & Westwood Heath said they were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with their local area as a place to live, compared to 66% across all Coventry respondents. This gives a tentative indication that satisfaction is similar to the Coventry average amongst Canley residents.

Overall, Canley residents have relatively good access to green space compared to the average across the whole of Coventry, although some aspects could be better. The Coventry Green Space Strategy 2019 -2024 shows there is considerable variation in the amount of unrestricted green space by ward across Coventry, the average per ward is 3.05 hectares per 1,000 population. Across Westwood ward there are 4.15 hectares per 1,000 population, and Canley is located within Westwood.  While the data is only available by ward and not specifically for Canley, this data gives a good indication of the area of green space accessible to people living in Canley. The strategy shows that residents living in all parts of Canley are within 400 metres of some kind of unrestricted green space.

Most of the unrestricted green space in the area is ‘Natural and Semi-natural Greenspace’, mostly woodland – Park Wood and Ten Shillings Wood are located in Canley. There is also some ‘Amenity Greenspace’ (informal green space often found in housing areas or adjacent to highways) and also some outdoor sports facilities, but relatively little coverage of other types like ‘Parks and Gardens’ or ‘Green Corridor’. So, while the total amount of green space is relatively good, Canley residents don’t have good access to wide variety of green space. The table below illustrates the amount of green space by type in Westwood ward compared to the other wards of Coventry.

Table: Green space quantity by primary type and Coventry ward, hectares per 1,000 population

Source: Coventry Green Space Strategy 2019-2024, Coventry City Council

The strategy also illustrates that the quality of the green spaces in Canley is lower than average compared to other green spaces in Coventry. Data from a Coventry Green Space Audit is quoted, in which the quality of green spaces was scored.

Indications are that Canley has relatively good air quality, generally better than average for the city. Roadside pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM) is a concern across the UK and Coventry; poor air quality affects different communities disproportionately, some areas in Coventry do not achieve the EU and international standards. In 2022, NO₂ levels were measured at 75 locations in Coventry using diffusion tubes. Unfortunately, none of these are located in Canley. However, there are two tubes deployed at nearby locations, on Cromwell Lane and Station Avenue, and both of these measured levels that were amongst the lowest out of all locations measured in the city. 
An alternative measure is presented in the ‘Shape Atlas’ tool from the Department of Health and Social Care, the estimated annual nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM), and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) levels by neighbourhood. It indicates that levels of these pollutants in Canley are amongst the lowest out of all Coventry neighbourhoods, although still higher than the national average.

The Living Environment domain of the English Indices of Deprivation 2019 gives a summary of the quality of the local environment in the area compared to all other neighbourhoods across the country. It indicates, compared to other aspects of deprivation, the local environment is less of an issue in Canley, it is relatively good. This factor has two aspects: the indoors living environment, which reflects the condition of housing, and the outdoors living environment, which reflects air quality and road safety. While for the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, the combination of a number of aspects of deprivation, both of the LSOAs that constitute Canley are amongst the most deprived 20% in England, neither are ranked amongst the more deprived parts of Coventry in terms of Living Environment. This compares favourably to Coventry overall; 43% of Coventry’s residents live in neighbourhoods amongst the most deprived 20% in England in terms of Living Environment, so there are a number of areas of the city that are deprived in this aspect, but Canley isn’t one of them.

What else is happening? What else can be done?

"Improve public transport infrastructure (efficiency and affordability)”

"Reduce public transport costs and increase reliability so more people use it"

Improving public transport and infrastructure is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future. By making public transport more efficient, affordable and reliable, would encourage more people to use it. Suggestions also included a continued investment in to cleaner, greener vehicles, such as electric buses, as well as integrating real-time tracking and scheduling technologies to enhance reliability. Residents suggested reducing fares to encourage more people to use public transport, thereby decreasing traffic congestion and lowering carbon emissions. Affordable public transport is not just an environmental issue but also a social one, as it ensures that all residents, regardless of income, have access to essential services and opportunities. In addition to this, residents also suggested a better cycling infrastructure is essential. This involves building more dedicated cycle lanes on roads and marking them clearly on pavements to ensure the safety of cyclists. Encouraging bike hire businesses can also provide affordable and convenient options for those who may not own a bicycle but wish to travel sustainably.

Parking is a notable issue in Canley. Residents suggested having a clear and visible signage helps both residents and visitors navigate the city with ease, reducing confusion and the likelihood of accidents. Stronger enforcement against illegal parking is necessary to keep roads clear for public transport and emergency vehicles, as well as to maintain the flow of traffic.

“A programme of solar and wind power in the area. Walking and cycles should be a priority. Bring back more good quality local shops”

“Stop people parking on roads where they shouldn’t as well! A city with his clean, productive, successful and proud.”

As part of Coventry City Council's commitment to plant 360,000 new trees in the city in the next 10 years – that’s one for every citizen – local people were invited to take part in making it happen. Hundreds of volunteers planted over 3,0000 trees in Floyd's Field in Tile Hill. Trees were also planted in planted in Allesley Park, Sowe Common, Longford Park, Floyds Field and Park Wood. The wide variety of new trees will not only provide habitats and homes for wildlife, but also help combat air pollution as well as providing green spaces for us all to enjoy. The trees were provided by Trees for Cities, a UK charity that works to plant trees globally.

Improving waste management and recycling was highlighted as a key strategy for reducing environmental impact. Enhanced recycling support can make it easier for residents to recycle, thereby reducing waste sent to landfills. Additionally, lobbying for a reduction in plastic use by retail outlets can help tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution. Encouraging the use of reusable alternatives and implementing stricter regulations on single-use plastics can lead to a cleaner environment and a reduction in the harmful effects of plastic on wildlife.

Housing and homelessness 

Why is this important? 

Historically, housing is only considered in relation to health in terms of support to help vulnerable people to live healthy, independent lives and reduce the pressure on families and carers. However, it is now recognised that good quality housing for all leads to better health and wellbeing, as it indirectly affects early years outcomes, educational achievement, economic prosperity, and community safety.  

Conversely, rough sleeping and homelessness significantly impacts on a person’s mental and physical health, and the longer someone experiences rough sleeping, the more likely they will develop additional mental and physical health needs, develop substance misuse issues and have contact with the criminal justice system. 

What is the local picture? How does it compare? 

Most of the housing in Canley is semi-detached. An estimated 200 Canley residents live in student halls of residence, and 5,400 live in households in about 2,000 households. 51.8% of Canley households are semi-detached, notably more common here than across Coventry overall, 30.0% of all Coventry households are semi-detached. Most of the rest are either flats (21.7% of Canley houses compared to 15.7% across Coventry overall) or terraced houses (20.5% of Canley houses compared to 39.9% across Coventry overall). Only 4.3% of houses in Canley are detached compared to 11.6% across Coventry overall.

People in Canley are much more likely to be living in socially rented housing compared to the Coventry average. The Census 2021 data says that 46.7% of Canley households are socially rented, compared to 17.0% of all Coventry households. Socially rented households make up a relatively high proportion of all households compared to other Coventry neighbourhoods, amongst the very highest in the city.  A relatively low proportion of household are owner occupied, 28.1% compared to 57.1% across Coventry overall.

The number of privately rented households increased between the 2011 and 2021 censuses. Overall, there was an increase of 276 additional households in Canley over that time, most of that increase was amongst privately rented households, increasing by 247 in 10 years, making up 23.5% of all Canley households in 2021 (Coventry 24.7%), up from 13.2% in 2011.

Households in Canley are much more likely to be overcrowded than the rest of Coventry. The 2021 Census revealed that 13.9% of households were overcrowded in Canley compared to 7.7% in Coventry. A house is defined as overcrowded if there are too few rooms for the number of occupants based on standards of a minimum number of common rooms and bedrooms needed for the size and composition of the household.

House prices in Canley are slightly higher than the city average, and relatively unaffordable for local residents. House Price Statistics for Small Areas (HPSSAs), produced by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), shows that the mean average price of houses sold in Canley in the year ending September 2022 was £240,800, compared to the Coventry average of £235,700.  

The data indicates that the one-year rate of increase in Canley house prices was higher than average for Coventry; the average price of houses sold in the year up to September 2022 was 11% higher than those sold in the year up to September 2021, compared to a city-wide annual increase of 4%. The 4-year increase is similar to the city average, increasing by 17% since the year ending September 2018, compared to 20% across Coventry overall.

A rough indication of how affordable the homes in the area are to its residents is given by looking at the ratio of the average annual household income, described above in the Prospects chapter, to average house prices. This gives a ratio of 7.5 in Canley compared to 5.7 across Coventry overall; indicating that buying a house in this area is notably less affordable to its residents compared to the average for all Coventry neighbourhoods.  

The city has high and increasing levels of homelessness as indicated by data on homelessness applications from Coventry City Council, and rates are higher than average amongst people from Canley.  In 2022/23 there was a rate of 20.1 homelessness applications per 1,000 residents made to Coventry City Council from people living in Canley, higher than the overall city rate of 14.6. As it has been across the city overall, rates were increasing, levels in 2022/23 are notably high than they were in 2018/19; although in Canley they have reduced a little sine 2020/21.  

Fuel poverty, which is influenced by energy prices, incomes, and housing quality, is higher than the Coventry and national average. This is measured using 2021 data, a time before the significant increase in energy bills impacted on households - the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on communities across the city is yet to be fully realised, as people face rapidly rising energy, fuel, food, and housing costs. In 2021 fuel poverty rates in Canley was estimated at 22.7% of all households being in fuel poverty, more prevalent than across Coventry overall and Coventry is estimated to have one of the highest fuel poverty rates in the country. The Coventry average was 20.8% and the England average was 13.1%.   

What else is happening? What else can be done?

Residents expressed concerns over the rate of new housing developments and what impact that has on them financially. Residents reported that they felt housing development in the area was “only targeting students”. New houses are viewed as being built for students and private developers are increasing prices in the area.

Threats to health and wellbeing are exacerbated by the increased costs associated with keeping homes warm, dry, and ventilated sufficiently over the colder months of the year and potential intermittent shortages in energy supply. Cold homes are recognised as a source of both physical and mental ill health, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, respiratory illness, falls and accidents.

The Council has been proactive in supporting the most vulnerable residents access support through a series of initiatives. Coventry City Council have commissioned local energy charity Act on Energy to deliver its Keeping Coventry Warm Scheme. Keeping Coventry Warm provides Coventry residents with free energy saving advice and information.

The household support fund is also a way to provide residents with support for essentials linked to energy and water in recognition that a range of costs may arise that directly affect a households’ ability to afford or access food energy and water.

Crime and community safety

Why is this important?

Being a victim of crime, and being worried about crime, impacts on a person’s perception of their quality of life in the neighbourhood and has a negative effect on a person’s mental and physical wellbeing.