𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Coastal communities are in the grip of “deep grief, anger, fear and anxiety” as land collapses into the sea and households and businesses face bankruptcy. Experts warn that within 80 years, more than 10,000 properties could be destroyed, along with over 110 miles of road and nearly four miles of railway lost.

The cross-party Environment and Rural Affairs committee has sounded the alarm about the devastation caused by coastal erosion. It wants estate agents and conveyancers to be required to warn property buyers their prospective home could fall into the sea. Their report warns of people feeling “abandoned” as they face “profound and distressing disruption”.

The Happisburgh Coastal Erosion Collective, which gives a voice to people in the northeast Norfolk village which is threatened by the sea, told the MPs of the “complete lack of practical support for people affected by the coastal erosion”. It described the “terrible psychological effect on people as they lose not only their home but everything they have invested in and worked hard for many years”.

The village made headlines earlier this year when people whose family members are buried in a graveyard near a cliff edge were encouraged to discuss the future of the site.

North Norfolk District Council told the MPs that “people are living with deep grief, anger, fear and anxiety” and feel a “desperate sense of injustice”. It also warned there is “no home insurance for coastal erosion” and highlighted the lack of compensation.

The Isle of Wight Council stated: “Residents report anxiety, stress, and feelings of helplessness, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall or after visible land movement.”

Alistair Carmichael, who chairs the committee, said: “Coastal erosion blights communities the length of this country and is a problem that will not go away.”

He said affected residents “deserve dignity, sympathy and, above all, practical help to move on with their lives”.

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins, who represents Louth and Horncastle, said: “As an MP for a beautiful stretch of Lincolnshire coastline, I know just how damaging coastal erosion can be for local communities, and particularly families with affected property… Labour is already doing all it can to destroy rural and coastal communities; they can’t let Britain literally crumble into the sea.”

Many people living in coastal communities are elderly and on low incomes. The MPs want homes in danger of erosion to have similar access to insurance as properties on flood plains that are at risk of flooding.

They note that while homeowners can get up to £6,000 to help with demolition, costs can range from £25,000 to £35,000. Their report calls for a “long-term national strategy” for relocation support.

An anonymous resident told the committee: “For many people, their home represents their most important asset, for which they will have worked hard to secure. It represents the foundation of their family life, whatever the size of their family, their independence and ability to support themselves.”

The Environment Agency is clear that not all areas can be defended.

It stated in its evidence to the committee: “For some coastal locations it will unfortunately no longer be technically, socially or economically feasible to continue to provide protection from flooding and coastal change.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “Coastal erosion is hugely impacted by climate change, so we will always support coastal communities to adapt where the forces of nature make long-term defence impossible. This Government is determined to make a difference and over the last two years more than £600million has been invested in protecting communities from sea and tidal flooding and we recently announced a £30million boost for coastal communities adapting to eroding shores.”