A Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Affluence and Deprivation Are Found Cheek by Jowl in England.
In a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, residents occupy homes only a few metres from their wealthier counterparts in the adjacent Scartho. One six-foot-tall wall literally separates the two areas in the town of Grimsby, sealing off roads and walkways that once connected them.
“This is the divide between rich and poor,” remarked Serenity Colley, 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I doubt they’ll take it down because I suspect they’ll want to mix with us.”
A Stark Pattern Across the Country
Data from government statistics reveals how deep inequality often exists, at times across little more than a few metres of asphalt, a hedge row or a barrier. Years of budget cuts and lack of funding mean almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a neighbourhood ranking as one of the most deprived in the nation.
The geographical widening of deprivation has coincided with a sharp rise in the quantity of places where deprived and affluent people find themselves living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the least deprived. This number rose to 119 in the latest data.
A Wall That Divides More Than Space
At this Lincolnshire site, the divide is the biggest in the country and starkly obvious. The wall transcends being just a metaphorical division; it causes tangible problems for everyday life.
- School runs that should take 15-20 minutes turn into an hour-long journey.
- Reaching important services like grocery stores, schools and care homes is hindered.
- The area can attract antisocial behaviour, with instances of litter being dumped over the wall and related problems.
“People strive to have a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, gesturing towards the rusted barricade.
Local Bonds Against a Backdrop of Hardship
Within Centre4, workers emphasise that support does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” explained director Tracey Good.
Despite being placed in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe boasts a fierce loyalty and sense of community among its inhabitants. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% overall.
A Similar Story: Stanhope in Ashford
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a 1960s housing development, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in the country. It is immediately adjacent by large detached homes built in the early 2000s that sit in the top 10% for job prospects and living environment.
“They may possess larger properties, but here there’s a stronger community,” said Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people over there don’t even speak to each other.”
The financial divide is clear: an average three-bedroom house sells for about £275,000 on the estate, while across the divide equivalent homes fetch about £410,000.
Residents describe a tangible feeling of neglect. “Our neighbourhood is neglected,” said resident Susan. “Over here our amenities have slowly been taken away, and the majority of the community problems here are related to poverty.”
The increase in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a picture of an increasingly segregated England, where wealth and deprivation are frequently awkwardly in close proximity.