🔗 Share this article A Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Affluence and Hardship Now Sit Side by Side in England. In Nunsthorpe, inhabitants occupy homes only a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. One six-foot-tall barricade literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that previously linked them. “It’s the posh-poor divide,” said a resident, aged 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I suspect they’ll want to associate with us.” A Stark National Picture Data from official figures shows how deep disparity can run, at times over nothing more than a few metres of tarmac, a line of hedges or a barrier. Years of austerity and lack of funding have led to a situation where a majority of councils now have a neighbourhood ranking as one of the poorest in the country. This spread of deprivation has coincided with a significant increase in the quantity of places where disadvantaged and affluent residents end up living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the wealthiest. That figure rose to 119 in the latest data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land At this Lincolnshire site, the divide is the biggest in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier is much more than a symbolic division; it creates tangible problems for everyday life. The school commute that should take a quarter of an hour turn into an hour-long detour. Access to important amenities like grocery stores, schools and care homes is hindered. The site often sees vandalism and loitering, with instances of litter being dumped over the wall and other issues. “People strive to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” noted one resident, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall. Local Bonds Amidst Challenges Within a local community centre, workers emphasise that need transcends addresses. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your personal struggles,” said director Tracey Good. Despite ranking in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, the estate boasts a strong sense and feeling of community among its residents. By contrast, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally. Echoes Elsewhere: An Estate in Kent This phenomenon is repeated nationally. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of areas in England. It is closely bordered by large houses built in the 2000s that sit in the top 10% for employment and quality of surroundings. “They may possess larger properties, but here there’s more community,” commented Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people over there don’t even speak to each other.” The economic divide is evident: an typical three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the estate, while on the other side equivalent properties go for about £410,000. Locals speak of a tangible feeling of being overlooked. “Our neighbourhood is neglected,” said holistic health worker Susan. “In this area our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the issues we face here are to do with financial hardship.” The rise in these ‘deprivation divides’ presents a portrait of an ever more divided society, where prosperity and deprivation are frequently awkwardly close neighbours.
In Nunsthorpe, inhabitants occupy homes only a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. One six-foot-tall barricade literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that previously linked them. “It’s the posh-poor divide,” said a resident, aged 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I suspect they’ll want to associate with us.” A Stark National Picture Data from official figures shows how deep disparity can run, at times over nothing more than a few metres of tarmac, a line of hedges or a barrier. Years of austerity and lack of funding have led to a situation where a majority of councils now have a neighbourhood ranking as one of the poorest in the country. This spread of deprivation has coincided with a significant increase in the quantity of places where disadvantaged and affluent residents end up living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the wealthiest. That figure rose to 119 in the latest data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land At this Lincolnshire site, the divide is the biggest in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier is much more than a symbolic division; it creates tangible problems for everyday life. The school commute that should take a quarter of an hour turn into an hour-long detour. Access to important amenities like grocery stores, schools and care homes is hindered. The site often sees vandalism and loitering, with instances of litter being dumped over the wall and other issues. “People strive to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” noted one resident, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall. Local Bonds Amidst Challenges Within a local community centre, workers emphasise that need transcends addresses. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your personal struggles,” said director Tracey Good. Despite ranking in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, the estate boasts a strong sense and feeling of community among its residents. By contrast, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally. Echoes Elsewhere: An Estate in Kent This phenomenon is repeated nationally. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of areas in England. It is closely bordered by large houses built in the 2000s that sit in the top 10% for employment and quality of surroundings. “They may possess larger properties, but here there’s more community,” commented Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people over there don’t even speak to each other.” The economic divide is evident: an typical three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the estate, while on the other side equivalent properties go for about £410,000. Locals speak of a tangible feeling of being overlooked. “Our neighbourhood is neglected,” said holistic health worker Susan. “In this area our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the issues we face here are to do with financial hardship.” The rise in these ‘deprivation divides’ presents a portrait of an ever more divided society, where prosperity and deprivation are frequently awkwardly close neighbours.