Woman says demolition will leave her homeless

14 October 2025

Andrew Turnerin Hemsby

News image — Pascal Rose said she registered herself as homeless a week ago after a verbal conversation where she was told by a coastal erosion manager her home was at risk of demolition

Andrew Turner/BBC Pascal Rose has dyed red hair. She is wearing a grey top with a blue gilet over the top, which has a yellow lining around the neck. Near her are homes at risk of erosion, and a blue trailer. She is standing on the cliff at Hemsby, with the beach visible to the left of the picture. — Pascal Rose said she registered herself as homeless a week ago after a verbal conversation where she was told by a coastal erosion manager her home was at risk of demolition

A woman whose house has been threatened with demolition says she has registered herself as homeless.

Pascal Rose, 51, of The Marrams in Hemsby, said she was told verbally by Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) that her house was at imminent "risk" due to coastal erosion.

As a result, she has applied to the authority's homeless list, despite being offered a deal which could allow her to sell the property's planning rights, which could unlock development land.

Ms Rose said: "I was advised two weeks ago my home was in the red zone ... I just want some kind of confirmation to say what is going to happen to me, if they are going to provide me with a property, because at the moment I'm homeless."

Andrew Turner/BBC A beach scene with sandy cliffs and houses atop, at risk of coastal erosion. — Pascal Rose's house, on the left, could be demolished within days - leaving her homeless

Ms Rose added: "I am taking everything left out of my property into a storage unit, to be prepared for demolition. I've got days.

"We've been given a couple of offers, and I've asked for those to be put in a letter or email so that I can seek legal advice.

"As yet, two weeks on, I have received nothing.

"It would be a case of myself just picking my dog up and my suitcase and going, but with nowhere to go."

Andrew Turner/BBC A black timber-clad chalet on the cliff edge in Hemsby. It has been vandalised. Nearby is the cliff, the beach and cloudy sky. A hand rail and orange barrier are also in the shot. — Despite being dragged back from the edge twice, the house now faces likely demolition

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said the Hemsby stakeholder group met this week to discuss support for affected residents, as well as beach access and safety for residents and visitors.

Council leader Carl Smith said: "We aim to give people options to be able to relocate safely without facing the distress of last-minute demolition when bad weather puts properties at risk.

"We are not abandoning Hemsby - we are actively trying to find the best solutions for the community in the face of coastal erosion."

Andrew Turner/BBC A "for sale" sign, on it;s side having fallen over, belonging to Minors and Brady, which is blue and yellow. Behind it is a house which was reported to have been sold, but no details of the sale proceeding have been confirmed. — Estate agents have been told by a senior council officer they have a moral duty to fully explain the risks of purchasing properties at risk of coastal erosion

In July, a house was reported to have been sold for less than £10,000, with reports that two more homes have been marketed at £30,000.

In a council meeting last week, director of place Natasha Hayes said estate agents had a moral duty to explain the coastal erosion risks to those purchasing homes at risk, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Andrew Turner/BBC Simon Measures is wearing a sweat shirt, bearing the name Save Hemsby Coastline. Next to him is some orange barriers, a fence and a pathway along the cliff edge. — Simon Measures, of Save Hemsby Coastline, said there would be very little of the £1.6m government grant allocated to those who faced losing their homes to erosion

Simon Measures, who lives nearby, is chair of Save Hemsby Coastline - a charity that raised funds to pay for some coastal defences, which are set to be removed by the authority which claimed they had exacerbated erosion in undefended areas.

He said: "I would describe [the rollback scheme] as better than nothing.

"They were awarded £1.6m, but the amount left to compensate homeowners is £90,000; the rest is allocated, and that's got to cover 30 people, so you can do the maths yourself."

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it is not legally possible for it to compensate homeowners at risk of erosion, but the payments would effectively see the council buying the planning rights of demolished properties, allowing new homes to be built elsewhere inland.

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