Owners of seaside homes threatened by coastal erosion are ‘encouraged to vacate’

The owners of nine seaside properties are being encouraged to vacate them as worsening coastal erosion has left them close to the edge in a “10-metre zone of risk” of collapse onto the beach.Two named storms within the last month have caused around five metres of further loss of the sand dunes at Hemsby, Norfolk, Great Yarmouth Borough Council said.The authority said that if a property is at risk of collapse onto the beach, demolition needs to be carried out in a safe and manageable way.A total of 41 properties in Hemsby have been demolished since December last year.Two named storms within the last month have caused around five metres of further loss of the sand dunes at Hemsby (Joe Giddens/PA)PA WireThe council said that while no demolitions are currently scheduled, it has begun urging the owners of nine at-risk properties to plan to move out so that when demolition does need to take place it can be done in a planned way.A Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) spokesperson said: “Erosion continues to have a significant impact on the dunes at Hemsby, with two named storms within the past month causing about five metres of further loss of the dunes.“The erosion is extremely distressing for those affected and the council works closely with residents impacted to offer advice, support and explain the options available.“As the coastal authority responsible, GYBC has a duty to maintain public safety and where property is at risk of collapse onto the beach, demolition needs to be carried out in a safe and manageable way.The local council said it is ‘continuing its ongoing programme of liaison and discussion with residents’ (Joe Giddens/PA)PA Wire“Analysis of the latest data and mapping shows nine properties are now within the 10-metre zone of risk and owners have been contacted and spoken with to encourage them to vacate in a timely way so any necessary action can be taken in a safe and planned way.”The authority said it is “continuing its ongoing programme of liaison and discussion with residents that includes home visits and public engagement sessions”.“Norfolk has some of Europe’s most rapidly eroding coastline and since December 2025, 41 properties in Hemsby have been demolished,” the spokesperson said.“The work was carried out as storms and high tides put the properties at risk of collapse onto the beach.Properties are at risk of collapse at Hemsby in Norfolk (Joe Giddens/PA)PA Wire“Last winter, the dunes in Hemsby saw about 50% of the erosion predicted for the entirety of the next 30 years.Read More“More than 10 metres of land was lost in just over 12 months.”