A Rising ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: How Affluence and Hardship Are Found Cheek by Jowl in Across England.
In Nunsthorpe, residents occupy properties only a few metres from their wealthier counterparts in nearby Scartho. A 1.8-metre-high wall literally separates the two communities in the town of Grimsby, sealing off paths and streets that previously linked them.
“This is the divide between rich and poor,” remarked a resident, aged 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I don’t think they’ll want to mix with us.”
A Stark National Picture
Analysis of government figures reveals the extent of inequality can run, sometimes across little more than a short distance of asphalt, a hedge row or a wall. Decades of austerity and underinvestment have led to a situation where almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a neighbourhood ranking as one of the most deprived in the country.
The spread of poverty has coincided with a significant rise in the quantity of locations where deprived and affluent people end up living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the least deprived. That figure increased to 119 in the most recent data.
A Wall That Does More Than Separate Space
In Grimsby, the divide is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly apparent. The wall transcends being just a metaphorical division; it creates very real problems for daily routines.
- The school commute that should take 15-20 minutes become an hour-long journey.
- Reaching important amenities like supermarkets, schools and care homes is hindered.
- The area often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of litter being dumped over the wall and related problems.
“You try to maintain a well-kept home and garden, and then you live opposite that,” noted one local, gesturing towards the corroded metal wall.
Local Bonds Against a Backdrop of Hardship
At Centre4, workers stress that need transcends postcodes. “Your postcode is not a reliable indicator of your personal struggles,” explained director Tracey Good.
Regardless of being placed in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate retains a strong sense and feeling of togetherness among its inhabitants. By contrast, the neighbouring area is classified among the most prosperous 10% nationally.
A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent
This pattern is mirrored nationally. The Stanhope area in Kent, a 1960s housing development, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of neighbourhoods in the country. It is closely bordered by spacious detached homes built in the 2000s that are in the wealthiest tenth for employment and quality of surroundings.
“They may possess larger properties, but here there’s more community,” said a long-term resident, 63. “You’ll probably find many people over there don’t even speak to each other.”
The financial gap is evident: an average three-bedroom house sells for about £275,000 on the estate, while across the divide equivalent homes fetch about £410,000.
Locals speak of a palpable sense of neglect. “This part of the community gets ignored,” stated resident Susan. “In this area our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the community problems here are to do with financial hardship.”
The rise in these ‘deprivation divides’ paints a picture of an increasingly divided England, where prosperity and need are often awkwardly in close proximity.
