A Rising ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: How Prosperity and Hardship Now Sit Side by Side in Across England.
In Nunsthorpe, residents occupy properties only a few metres from their wealthier counterparts in nearby Scartho. One 1.8-metre-high wall physically separates the two areas in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, sealing off roads and walkways that previously linked them.
“This is the posh-poor divide,” remarked Serenity Colley, aged 37. “It has been there for as long as I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I suspect they’ll want to mix with us.”
An Increasingly Common National Picture
Analysis of official figures shows the extent of inequality often exists, at times across nothing more than a short distance of asphalt, a line of hedges or a wall. Years of budget cuts and lack of funding mean almost two-thirds of local authorities now contain a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the nation.
This spread of deprivation has led to a significant rise in the number of places where deprived and well-off people end up as immediate neighbours. In 2019, just 65 of the most deprived areas adjoined one of the least deprived. This number rose to 119 in the latest data.
A Barrier Which Divides More Than Space
In Grimsby, the gap is the biggest in the UK and starkly apparent. The barrier is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes very real difficulties for everyday life.
- The school commute that ought to take a quarter of an hour become an hour-long journey.
- Reaching important amenities like grocery stores, educational facilities and care homes is hindered.
- The area often sees antisocial behaviour, with reports of rubbish being dumped over the wall and related issues.
“You try to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you live opposite that,” said one resident, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall.
Local Bonds Against a Backdrop of Hardship
Within Centre4, workers stress that need does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your level of challenge,” said chief executive Tracey Good.
Regardless of ranking in the most deprived 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate boasts a strong sense and sense of community among its residents. By contrast, the neighbouring area ranks among the most prosperous 10% overall.
A Similar Story: Stanhope in Ashford
This pattern is mirrored nationally. The Stanhope area in Kent, a mid-century overspill estate, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of neighbourhoods in England. It is immediately adjacent by large houses built in the early 2000s that sit in the top 10% for job prospects and quality of surroundings.
“They may possess larger properties, but here there’s more community,” said Phil Hockley, aged 63. “You’ll probably find a lot of people in the new builds don’t even speak to each other.”
The financial divide is evident: an average three-bedroom house sells for about £275,000 on the estate, while across the divide comparable homes fetch about £410,000.
Residents describe a tangible sense of neglect. “This part of the community is neglected,” said holistic health worker Susan. “Over here our amenities have slowly been taken away, and most of the community problems here are to do with poverty.”
The rise in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a picture of an increasingly segregated England, where prosperity and deprivation are frequently uncomfortably in close proximity.
