Ash Close is in Shaftesbury and in North Dorset district. SP7 8RA is located in the Shaftesbury Town electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North Dorset. This postcode has been in use since 1992-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Ash Close, Shaftesbury, SP7 8RA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SP7 8RH, SP7 8RG, SP7 8EH, SP7 8RD, SP7 8RW, SP7 8RF, SP7 8RE, SP7 8EE, SP7 8EG.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around SP7 8RA is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.9%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 51.1% | 51.1% | 0.0% | 51.0% | 0.1% |
| Male | 48.9% | 48.9% | 0.0% | 49.0% | -0.1% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 30.2% | 33.8% | 3.6% | 37.9% | -4.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 52.5% | 49.2% | -3.3% | 44.2% | 5.0% |
| Separated | 2.3% | 1.5% | -0.8% | 2.2% | -0.7% |
| Divorced | 10.9% | 10.5% | -0.4% | 9.1% | 1.4% |
| Widowed | 4.2% | 4.9% | 0.7% | 6.1% | -1.2% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 49.2% | 49.1% | -0.1% | 48.4% | 0.7% |
| Good health | 34.2% | 32% | -2.2% | 33.6% | -1.6% |
| Fair health | 11.9% | 14% | 2.1% | 12.7% | 1.3% |
| Bad health | 4.1% | 3.4% | -0.7% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 1.6% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 12%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 21.5% | 17.7% | -3.8% | 18.2% | -0.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 18.9% | 16.2% | -2.7% | 9.6% | 6.6% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 20% | 21.1% | 1.1% | 13.4% | 7.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.4% | 7.9% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 2.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14% | 21.4% | 7.4% | 16.9% | 4.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 12.8% | 12% | -0.8% | 33.8% | -21.8% |
| Other | 9.4% | 3.8% | -5.6% | 2.8% | 1.0% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 95.7% identifying as such, significantly higher than the UK average of 81.4%. This indicates a lower level of ethnic diversity compared to the broader UK population.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Asian | 1.9% | 1.2% | -0.7% | 1.6% | -0.4% |
| Black African | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.5% | -0.9% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 97.8% | 95.7% | -2.1% | 81.4% | 14.3% |
In this area, 90.7% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 88.7% | 90.7% | 2.0% | 83.2% | 7.5% |
| European Union | 7.8% | 5.9% | -1.9% | 6.1% | -0.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 0.6% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.2% | 0.9% | -1.3% | 5.6% | -4.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 88.1% | 90.7% | 2.6% | 83.2% | 7.5% |
| 10+ Years | 0.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 9.8% | -4.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 4.7% | 2.8% | -1.9% | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.1% | 1.2% | -1.9% | 2.2% | -1.0% |
| Less than 2 years | 3.1% | 0% | -3.1% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 70.4% | 76.7% | -6.3% |
| Poland | 2.8% | 1.3% | 1.5% |
| Romania | 3.1% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| No passport held | 23.1% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 41.2% | 37.2% | 4.0% |
| Christian | 50.5% | 46.2% | 4.3% |
| Other religion | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Not answered | 7.4% | 6.0% | 1.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Ash Close was 27.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 64.2% lower than the Shaftesbury Town average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Ash Close has the 5th lowest crime rate of 29 local areas in Shaftesbury Town and the 478th lowest crime rate of 1,293 local areas in Dorset .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 9.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have remained broadly unchanged year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -52.1%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 55% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Ash Close, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £179,000 | 2024-11-22 | £184,680 |
| 16 Ash Close, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £210,000 | 2023-12-15 | £218,678 |
| 7 Ash Close, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £295,000 | 2022-10-19 | £288,140 |
| 6 Ash Close, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £215,000 | 2022-10-19 | £210,000 |
| 16 Ash Close, Shaftesbury, Dorset Terraced, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2021-08-25 | £205,481 |
SP7 8RA area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 93 |
| Retired | 57 |
| Part-Time Employee | 35 |
| Self-Employed | 26 |
| Looking after home or family | 17 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 10 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 39 |
| Other | 29 |
| Human health and social work activities | 27 |
| Education | 17 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Construction | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 13 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 6 |
| Transport and storage | 6 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School Wincombe Lane , SP7 8PZ | 2out of 4 | 272 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury St James's Street , SP7 8HQ | 3out of 4 | 1,815 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Motcombe CofE Primary School Church Road , Motcombe SP7 9NT | 3out of 4 | 2,854 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Semley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Semley , SP7 9AU | 3out of 4 | 4,035 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ludwell Primary School Coronation Drive , Ludwell SP7 9ND | - not rated | 4,198 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury School Salisbury Road , SP7 8ER | 3out of 4 | 1,362 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Regis Preparatory School Motcombe Park , SP7 9QA | - not rated | 2,362 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai Kitchen | Part Unit 1 - Baan Thai, Wessex House Wincombe Lane | 545 yd | |
| KFC | Kfc Ivy Cross | 561 yd | |
| Subway | Subway Ivy Cross | 561 yd | |
| Skevy's Cafe | 24C Wincombe Business Park | 572 yd | |
| Gusto | 54 High Street | 1,036 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Football Club | Shaftesbury Football Club Coppice Street | 924 yd | |
| Pitchers, Shaftesbury Sports Club Ltd | Shaftesbury Football Club Coppice Street | 924 yd | |
| Royal British Legion | Legion Headquarters Coppice Street | 940 yd | |
| Santonino Trattoria | 1 Mustons Lane | 1,057 yd | |
| Shaston Social Club Ltd | Shaston Social Club Ltd Bleke Street | 1,072 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Kebab And Pizza House | Family Kebab And Pizza House Ivy Cross | 561 yd | |
| Ivy Cross Greggs | Ivy Cross Service Station Ivy Cross | 561 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | Unit 1, Ivy Cross House Ivy Cross | 561 yd | |
| Amys Traditional Takeaway | Amys Fish And Chips Ivy Cross | 561 yd | |
| Open House Shaftesbury | Fathers House Shaftesbury Christys Lane | 600 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Southern Co-Operative | Unit 1, Beaufoy House, 1 Beaufoy Close | 650 yd | |
| Tesco | Tesco Stores Ltd Christys Lane | 940 yd | |
| Morrisons Daily | Morrisons Daily Bell Street | 1,025 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Church Of England Primary School WINCOMBE LANE | grass pitches, swimming pool | 170 yd |
| Shaftesbury Oasis Swimming Pool Barton Hill | swimming pool | 838 yd |
| Shaftesbury Football Club OLD BOUNDARY ROAD | grass pitches | 849 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 45.4 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 89.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 550 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 550 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 12.5 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.5 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 75 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.