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Six more homes face demolition as cliff crumbles

Louise Parry
News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC An aerial image of the Thorpeness coastline. It shows a large residential cream coloured building, which is a block of flats, on the edge of the cliff. The flat's gardens fall away at the back and merge with the crumbling sandy cliff. Next to the flats is a single storey building. There are piles of large white sandbags on the beach acting as sea defences. John Fairhall/BBC
A block of five flats and a detached bungalow are being demolished in Thorpeness after rapid erosion of the cliff

Six more homes on a crumbling clifftop are being demolished after erosion reached "critical safety levels".

East Suffolk Council said demolition work has had to begin to take down a block of five apartments and a detached home in Thorpeness.

The homes on Tinkers End are off North End Avenue where four other properties have been removed since 2022.

"This is an incredibly difficult time for homeowners facing demolition and for all Thorpeness residents," a council spokesperson said.

They added that the local authority was continuing to support affected homeowners, and had made nearby residents aware.

News imageRichard Daniel/BBC A large yellow crane in front of a partially demolished home, seen from the side. The end of the house has been ripped off exposing the roof beams and internal walls. It looks well kept and is painted white inside. It is cloudy above.Richard Daniel/BBC
Since October, three homes on the cliff's edge have been bulldozed

"Last week, East Suffolk Council confirmed that it will continue to provide funding to support Thorpeness homeowners faced with the cost of demolishing their homes," the spokesperson added.

"Support to find alternative housing is also available should this be required.

"We are considering all feasible proposals from other affected homeowners on North End Avenue who wish to install privately funded short-term defences on their property."

On Friday, more than 150 people attended a meeting organised by the Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal, Jenny Riddell-Carpenter.

"The rate of erosion right here at Thorpeness has been extremely fast since Christmas," she said.

"It's really sped up since October... we've now got families facing the absolutely worst-case scenario."

News imageRichard Daniel/BBC A serene view of the sea and sky next to the low cliffs of Thorpeness. The Warren is a half timbered black and white building with a patio that ends just feet from the cliff edge, which has eroded towards the house. The clifftop is grassy. Another home can be seen further along the cliffs.Richard Daniel/BBC
The Warren before it was demolished
News imageJamie Niblock/BBC A view of The Chantry property taken from the beach below. Is is a large detached home with two gables at either end. There is a sandy cliff that has eroded and is now very close to the house. Rough grass grows over the edge of the cliff, but it is mostly sand. There is wire netting in the foreground.Jamie Niblock/BBC
The Chantry also had to be taken down shortly before Christmas

Residents had tried to protect their homes by putting sandbags in front of the cliff face ahead of high tides.

Defences including rocks, gabions and geobags have been installed to manage the effects of coastal erosion, but in 2024 up to 23ft (7m) of land was lost to the sea.

The council district has 48 miles (77km) of coastline and last year spent £750,000 maintaining sea defences.

Mark Packard, the authority's cabinet member for planning and coastal management, previously said the council believed the erosion would eventually "settle down".

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