About South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire, located in the centre of England, covers an area of 112 square miles, adjoining the City of Derby to the north, Burton on Trent to the west, and Ashby-de-la-Zouch to the east.

It includes the rolling countryside to be found in the valleys of the Rivers Trent and Dove, with historic settlements, including Melbourne, Ticknall, and Repton, and the market town of Swadlincote. A significant part of the District is rural, which attracts visitors and people seeking relaxation or a good work-life balance.

The main population and employment centre of the District is Swadlincote, with a population of some 40,000. New housing development has led to a rapid growth in the District in recent years, and the construction of further homes is anticipated. Other sizeable settlements include the attractive Georgian town of Melbourne and the villages of Hilton, Hatton, Repton, and Willington.

The National Forest is at the heart of South Derbyshire and is a key asset to the District, a unique national initiative to create a new forest in what was one of the least wooded areas of the country. In the last 25 years, over 9 million trees have been planted, creating an attractive environment and quality of life. Around one third of the National Forest is within the District of South Derbyshire.

For many years, the District has been the fastest growing in Derbyshire and is currently one of the fastest growing in England outside of the South-East.

Key numbers

There are 107,200 people living in the District (2021), compared to 94,611 in the 2011 Census - a 13% growth in population.

57% of people live in an urban area and 43% of people live in a rural area of the District (ONS).

The total population of the District is forecast to be 120,342 by 2028 (ONS).