The Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: How Prosperity and Deprivation Are Found Cheek by Jowl in England.
In Nunsthorpe, inhabitants occupy homes only a few metres from their wealthier counterparts in nearby Scartho village. A 1.8-metre-high barricade literally separates the two areas in the town of Grimsby, sealing off roads and walkways that previously connected them.
“This is the posh-poor divide,” remarked Serenity Colley, aged 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll take it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.”
An Increasingly Common National Picture
Data from government statistics shows how deep inequality often exists, at times across nothing more than a short distance of tarmac, a hedge row or a wall. Years of austerity 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 spread of deprivation has led to a significant increase in the number of places where deprived and well-off residents end up living side by side. In 2019, only 65 of the poorest neighbourhoods bordered one of the wealthiest. That figure rose to 119 in the most recent data.
A Barrier Which Does More Than Separate Space
In Grimsby, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and painfully obvious. The barrier transcends being just a symbolic division; it creates tangible problems for daily routines.
- School runs that should take 15-20 minutes turn into an hour-long detour.
- Access to key amenities like supermarkets, educational facilities and care homes is hindered.
- The area often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of rubbish being dumped over the wall and related issues.
“You try to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, gesturing towards the corroded metal wall.
Local Bonds Against a Backdrop of Challenges
Within Centre4, workers emphasise that support does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your level of challenge,” explained chief executive Tracey Good.
Regardless of ranking in the most deprived 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, the estate boasts a strong sense and feeling of togetherness among its inhabitants. By contrast, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally.
A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent
This phenomenon is repeated nationally. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a mid-century housing development, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of areas in England. It is closely bordered by large detached homes built in the 2000s that are in the wealthiest tenth for employment and living environment.
“They may possess larger properties, but here there’s a stronger community,” said Phil Hockley, 63. “You’ll probably find many people over there never even talk to each other.”
The financial divide is clear: an average three-bedroom house sells for about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side comparable properties go for about £410,000.
Locals describe a tangible feeling of neglect. “This part of the community gets ignored,” said resident Susan. “In this area our amenities have slowly been taken away, and the majority of the community problems here are related to poverty.”
The rise in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a picture of an ever more segregated society, where prosperity and deprivation are frequently awkwardly in close proximity.