Families Losing Properties To Coastal Erosion Prioritised For New Affordable Homes

East Yorkshire residents facing the loss of their properties to the rapidly eroding coastline will be given priority access to a new £3.1 million affordable housing development in Skipsea.

Families facing the loss of their properties to the rapidly eroding East Yorkshire coastline will be given priority access to nine newly constructed affordable homes.

Coastal erosion claims up to four and a half metres of land each year along some parts of the East Yorkshire coast, making it one of the fastest eroding coastlines in Europe. Properties on streets such as Green Lane in Skipsea face the imminent threat of falling into the sea, with several households already forced to abandon their properties.

The new homes, built on the site of former agricultural buildings at Church Farm in Skipsea, will sit approximately one mile inland from the advancing coastline. The development includes five two-bedroom bungalows alongside four houses with two and three bedrooms, all available for social rent.

Council Leader Councillor Anne Handley said:

"Residents who have lost or are at risk of losing their homes to the sea on the East Yorkshire coastline are to be given priority to a new affordable homes project.

The homes are located on the site of former agricultural buildings around one mile inland from the coast. They will increase the availability of affordable housing in a rural and coastal area where there is significant need, and they will provide a practical housing option for residents affected by coastal erosion."

The project will cost £3.1 million to complete, with funding including £1 million from Homes England, an £800,000 contribution from the Changing Coasts East Riding project, and £244,000 from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Housing association Broadacres will fund the remaining balance, and WB Construction will build the homes.

Councillor Handley says the new homes are important for maintaining community connections:

"The total cost of the scheme is 3.1 million. The scheme will provide five two-bedroom bungalows and four two and three-bedroom houses, all for social rent.

That might sound like a small number of homes, but for the households affected, it represents security, stability, and the chance to remain close to the communities, schools, services, and support networks that they know.

This project forms part of a wider work to help coastal communities respond to the long-term impacts of coastal change."

The housing scheme forms part of a wider initiative to help coastal communities navigate the long-term impacts of the changing landscape. East Riding of Yorkshire Council previously secured £15 million for the Changing Coasts East Riding project in 2022, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The council leader added:

"East Yorkshire has some of the fastest eroding coastline in Europe with some areas losing up to 4.5 meters per year.

This is not an abstract environmental issue. Some households have already had to move away from the coastline and others continue to live with the anxiety of knowing that their homes may be affected in the future.

By giving priority to people whose homes have been or could be affected by coastal erosion, these new homes will help residents stay rooted in the area they know."

However, questions have been raised regarding the scale of the new housing development compared to the significant funding available and the widespread threat to local properties across the region.

Councillor Denise Howard said:

"Nine new houses doesn't seem to be a huge number given the scale of coastal erosion and the number of homes and businesses that are at risk across the East Riding.

15 million pounds had been secured through the changing coast East Riding back in 2022. So, I just like to know how much more of this money will be spent on projects like the one in Skipsea and when can we expect them to start getting underway?"

In response to concerns over future funding and the scope of assistance for displaced residents, the local authority leadership assured the public that further support is planned.

Council Leader Councillor Anne Handley said:

"The coastline's eroding and it's a movable feast. We have got officers working out there, and I'm quite sure moving forward, that this is just the first of what's to come. But the fact that the council has is looking at that, is looking after those residents to me is of utmost importance. But the coast has definitely, never, and will not be left behind, I can assure you of that."

The collaborative effort has been welcomed by local housing providers, who emphasise the importance of keeping vulnerable residents within their familiar surroundings.

Claire Townson, Chief Executive of Broadacres, said:

"We are delighted to be working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Homes England to bring forward these much-needed affordable homes in Skipsea.

This partnership demonstrates how housing providers and local authorities can work together to respond to the real challenges facing coastal communities.

By giving priority to people whose homes have been, or could be, affected by coastal erosion, these new homes will help residents remain rooted in the area they know, with the security and support they need for the future."