£1.6m proposals put forward to rehome people living on crumbling coast in Hemsby
The pilot scheme could help rehome 30 households in the Norfolk village.
A pilot scheme could help rehome 30 households in a Norfolk village who are at risk from coastal erosion.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) has proposed investing £1.6m in developing a project to provide new housing for people living in Hemsby.
The community is at the forefront of the battle against erosion along Norfolk’s coast, with many properties expected to become unsafe in the coming years.
Up to 30 homes in high risk areas in the village could be demolished with the aim of eventually replacing them with new housing built on farmland.
The project would work through the authority procuring land further away from the eroding cliffs before undertaking the necessary surveys and negotiations to secure planning permission.
This will result in the land increasing in value, which, if sold, would help GYBC recover the costs.
The authority may also choose to develop the site, offering further opportunity to reinvest in similar coastal adaptation schemes.
Officers say this would provide a sustainable investment model for dealing with the coastal erosion threat.
Next week, cabinet members at the Conservative-controlled council will be asked to approve the initial £1.6m budget to bring the project into fruition, which will utilise Resilient Coasts funding from the Environment Agency.
In a report, officers said: “The aim is for the very first time to give people at high-risk of erosion, choices through financial support, whilst addressing coastal erosion impacts and accommodating coastal adaptation.”
Carl Smith, leader of the council, said the move would allow the council to act “creatively” to support the community of Hemsby, which has been told new sea defences would be unaffordable.
He said: “As everyone is aware, our coast is on the frontline of erosion and the effects of climate change. To adapt to these changes, we are determined to find solutions which best help the people affected.
“This funding would provide us with a unique opportunity to test and realise meaningful adaptation in Hemsby, including financially supporting and safely relocating residents at very high risk of coastal erosion.”
Councillors will meet to discuss the project on July 15.