Seaside communities across the east coast of England have experienced significant losses from coastal erosion and landslides, according to data compiled by the Guardian from nine councils identified as particularly vulnerable. Local authorities have proactively demolished at least 183 homes judged too unsafe for continued occupation, incurring demolition expenses totaling £1.1 million. The Environment Agency funded approximately £482,000 of these costs for 61 properties, while councils and homeowners covered the remaining expenses.
East Riding of Yorkshire council has removed the most properties, demolishing 66 homes since 2010, while Great Yarmouth borough council has demolished 64 homes, primarily in Hemsby. Since December 2025, Great Yarmouth alone removed 41 properties as the coastal village experienced accelerated erosion rates. North Norfolk council has demolished 21 homes over the same timeframe, and East Suffolk council has seen demolitions surge, with 16 properties removed between May of the previous year and April of this year, primarily in Thorpeness.
Scientists attribute the accelerating erosion partly to climate-driven changes including wetter winters, increased storminess, and rising sea levels. The east coast’s geological composition of sandy, gravelly, and silty material makes it particularly susceptible to erosion. The Environment Agency projects that 3,500 properties in England face coastal erosion risk by 2055, potentially increasing to more than 10,000 by 2105. Additionally, over 6 miles of major roads, 107 miles of minor roads, and 3.5 miles of railway serving coastal communities face similar threats.
Unlike flood damage covered by the Flood Re insurance scheme, coastal erosion lacks comparable UK insurance protection, as insurers classify coastal retreat for certain properties as a virtual certainty rather than an accidental risk. Residents have expressed significant financial hardship, with some losing hundreds of thousands of pounds in property value and forced to deplete pension savings for relocation. Councils report limited government mechanisms exist to support broader adaptation and relocation costs, though some authorities have invested in temporary erosion-reduction measures while testing innovative approaches through government programs.
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