The Rising ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: How Affluence and Deprivation Now Sit Cheek by Jowl in Across England.
In Nunsthorpe, inhabitants occupy homes only several yards from their wealthier neighbours in nearby Scartho. A six-foot-tall wall physically separates the two communities in the town of Grimsby, sealing off paths and streets that once linked them.
“This is the posh-poor divide,” remarked Serenity Colley, 37. “It has been there for as long as I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I don’t think they’ll want to mix with us.”
An Increasingly Common Pattern Across the Country
Analysis of government statistics reveals how deep disparity often exists, sometimes across nothing more than a short distance of asphalt, a line of hedges or a barrier. Decades of budget cuts and lack of funding have led to a situation where almost two-thirds of councils now have a neighbourhood ranking as one of the poorest in the country.
The spread of deprivation has led to a significant increase in the number of places where disadvantaged and well-off residents find themselves as immediate neighbours. In 2019, just 65 of the poorest areas adjoined one of the least deprived. This number increased to 119 in the latest data.
A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land
At this Lincolnshire site, the divide is the most pronounced in the country and starkly obvious. The wall is much more than a symbolic division; it creates very real problems for daily routines.
- The school commute that should take 15-20 minutes turn into an hour-long detour.
- Reaching key amenities like grocery stores, schools and employment centres is made more difficult.
- The area can attract vandalism and loitering, with reports of litter being thrown over the wall and other problems.
“You try to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you live opposite that,” said one local, gesturing towards the corroded barricade.
Community Spirit Amidst Challenges
Within a local community centre, staff stress that need does not recognise addresses. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your personal struggles,” said chief executive Tracey Good.
Despite being placed in the most deprived 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe boasts a fierce loyalty and feeling of community among its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Scartho ranks among the least deprived 10% overall.
A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a mid-century overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of neighbourhoods in England. It is closely bordered by spacious houses built in the early 2000s that sit in the wealthiest tenth for job prospects and quality of surroundings.
“They may possess bigger houses, but here there’s a stronger community,” said a long-term resident, 63. “You’ll probably find many people in the new builds never even talk to each other.”
The economic divide is clear: an typical family home costs about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side comparable homes fetch about £410,000.
Locals describe a tangible feeling of neglect. “Our neighbourhood is neglected,” stated resident Susan. “Over here our amenities have slowly been taken away, and most of the issues we face here are related to poverty.”
The increase in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a portrait of an increasingly segregated England, where wealth and need are often awkwardly close neighbours.
