Campaigners reveal areas most at risk of homes falling into sea in England

Coastal homes worth a total of almost £600m could be lost and consumed by the sea in England by 2100, according to a climate action group.

One Home identified 21 at-risk villages and hamlets and estimated how much coast could be lost there.

Coastal erosion is the process by which land is worn away or displaced along the shoreline, through the repetitive motion of the waves, rocks smashing against land or chemical reactions in the water.

The value of property damage on land that could be hit by coastal erosion by 2100 was estimated at £584m, using average local authority values or site-specific values from Rightmove, One Home said.

It compiled a map highlighting what shoreline management plans are in place in different areas of the coast, and what the level of protection is.

It shows the coastal communities most at risk are:

• Cornwall
• Cumbria
• Dorset
• East Yorkshire
• Essex
• The Isle of Wight
• Kent
• Northumberland
• Norfolk
• Sussex

Cliff faces 'crumbling fast'

Angela Terry, chief executive of One Home, said: "Sea levels are rising as global temperatures soar and so larger waves batter our coast during severe storms.

"These irreversible changes mean some cliff faces are crumbling fast.

"We can't turn the tide or build a wall around the entire coast so we urgently need to help seaside communities to prepare for the damage that will come."

Read more:
Britain 'shrinking' with some coastal communities doomed

Campaigners say that shoreline management plans are available to the public but most people are not aware of them or their details.

One Home added: "Many homeowners don't know their properties are at risk or that decisions have been made about whether to protect them or not.

"Currently, for those homes at risk, there is no compensation scheme available. Owners might be asked to pay to demolish their homes while still paying their mortgage."