A Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: How Prosperity and Hardship Are Found Side by Side in England.
Within a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, inhabitants occupy homes only a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. A six-foot-tall barricade literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off paths and streets that previously connected them.
“It’s the divide between rich and poor,” remarked a resident, 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I doubt they’ll take it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.”
An Increasingly Common Pattern Across the Country
Analysis of official statistics reveals the extent of inequality can run, at times across little more than a few metres of asphalt, a hedge row or a wall. Decades of austerity and underinvestment mean almost two-thirds of councils now contain a neighbourhood ranking as one of the most deprived in the country.
This geographical widening of deprivation has led to a sharp rise in the quantity of places where disadvantaged and well-off residents find themselves living side by side. In 2019, only 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the wealthiest. This number increased to 119 in the most recent data.
A Barrier Which Does More Than Separate Space
At this Lincolnshire site, the divide is the biggest in the country and painfully obvious. The wall transcends being just a metaphorical division; it causes very real difficulties for everyday life.
- The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes turn into an hour-long detour.
- Reaching key services like supermarkets, schools and employment centres is made more difficult.
- The site can attract antisocial behaviour, with reports of litter being dumped over the wall and related problems.
“People strive to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you live opposite that,” said one local, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall.
Local Bonds Against a Backdrop of Hardship
Within Centre4, staff stress that need transcends postcodes. “Your postcode doesn’t necessarily indicate your level of challenge,” explained chief executive a community leader.
Despite ranking in the most deprived 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, Nunsthorpe retains a fierce loyalty and feeling of togetherness among its inhabitants. By contrast, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally.
A Similar Story: Stanhope in Ashford
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope area in Kent, a mid-century housing development, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is closely bordered by spacious detached homes built in the 2000s that sit in the wealthiest tenth for job prospects and living environment.
“They might have bigger houses, but here there’s a stronger community,” commented Phil Hockley, 63. “You’ll probably find a lot of people over there never even talk to each other.”
The economic gap is clear: an typical family home sells for about £275,000 on the estate, while on the other side comparable homes go for about £410,000.
Locals speak of a tangible feeling of being overlooked. “This part of the community is neglected,” stated holistic health worker Susan. “Over here our facilities have gradually disappeared, and most of the issues we face here are related to financial hardship.”
The rise in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a picture of an ever more divided England, where wealth and need are frequently awkwardly close neighbours.
