About Little Shelford
Little Shelford is officially shrinking.
The Little Shelford population has officially fallen according to the new census data.
The number of people living in Little Shelford has dropped from 840 in 2011 to 779 in 2021.
The 61 person change is a 7% fall in the official Little Shelford population.
“Over this period, there has been quite a notable decline in birth rates nationally and in Cambridgeshire, so we have seen lower numbers of children, and this is particularly the case in areas where there hasn’t been any significant new house-building,” said Anna Jones, Senior Analyst (Research) at Cambridgeshire County Council.
“The total number of dwellings in Little Shelford has remained fairly static over the ten year period with a net increase of just 10 dwellings, whereas in Great Shelford the number of dwellings has increased by almost 120 and in Stapleford by more than 50.
“I think what we are seeing in Little Shelford is the impact of the ageing on of the population combined with the static size of the housing stock.
“There are fewer young children, as those in Census 2011 have aged on over the 10 year period and not been replaced due to lower birth rates and limited in-migration due to a lack of new homes.
“In addition, young adults at the time of Census 2011 have aged on and some will have formed households of their own. With no notable new housing, the net impact has been a fall in the population.”
The population numbers in both Great Shelford and Stapleford have increased by around 7% over the last 10 years.
Great Shelford’s population has increased to 4,537 according to the 2021 Census. The population of Great Shelford in 2011 was 4,233.
Stapleford’s population has increased to 2,005 according to the 2021 Census. The population of Stapleford in 2011 was 1,871.
Posted February 2 2024
About Little Shelford
Little Shelford in facts and figures
Little Shelford is a village located five miles south of Cambridge in the county of Cambridgeshire in eastern England.
It has a population of 779 according to the 2021 census and 336 homes.
The village has one pub, The Navigator, on the High Street and Winners, a fish and chip shop and Chinese takeaway.
Little Shelford has grown slowly over the centuries. In 1801, Little Shelford's population was 220. In 1861 it was 474 and in 1891 494. In 1901 it was 441. By 1961 the population of Little Shelford was 717.