Thorpeness residents urge Sizewell C to help fund sea defences
It follows East Suffolk Council ruling out using £18m erosion cash for protection
Residents in Thorpeness are calling on Sizewell C to help fund coastal defences, after East Suffolk Council confirmed that newly announced government funding will not be used to protect homes currently at risk of erosion.
The Environment Agency has said £18 million will be shared between Suffolk, Norfolk and East Yorkshire as part of new coastal adaptation pilots. However, East Suffolk Council has made clear the money cannot be spent on hard sea defences, such as rock armour, and will instead be used to help communities plan for relocation away from eroding coastlines.
The announcement has caused frustration among residents in Thorpeness, where several homes have already been demolished, and others remain under threat.
Willie Lebus, whose family owns a property in the village, said residents left a recent public meeting feeling that funding remained the central barrier to action.
“I think some of it was really good, but the fact of the matter is Thorpeness is an entity that needs a lot of very complicated solutions to be brought together as one,” he said. “Although the people who’ve already been affected are of most need right now, the long-term solution is to look at what can be done to prevent what will otherwise become a massive disaster.”
Mr Lebus said the coastline in the area is particularly vulnerable because of its soft, sandy cliffs, warning that erosion could eventually lead to flooding further inland.
“Nature is going to have a massive effect on the lives of property owners and people coming here on holiday and business owners,” he said. “Within a very, very small amount of time, there won’t be a Thorpeness.”
He added that residents believe major infrastructure developers nearby should play a greater role in funding solutions.
“As was mentioned at the meeting, Thorpeness is going to be a really interesting model for people investing in,” he said. “Those sorts of people are going to be the likes of Sizewell B and C, who are our neighbours two miles up the road.”
"Deflated. Incredibly angry"
Sizewell C has previously said it can offer technical expertise but not direct funding for defences. Mr Lebus said that the response left residents feeling disappointed.
“Deflated. Incredibly angry,” he said. “We’re talking about a project worth hundreds of billions, which is going to benefit shareholders and investors, and yet they cannot understand that they’ve got an amazing opportunity to actually help.”
He said residents felt the scale of the project meant even a small contribution could make a significant difference locally.
“This is a David and Goliath situation,” he said. “You’ve got Thorpeness at the mercy of those same elements, which could easily sink into nothingness within the space of 10 years or so.”
East Suffolk Council has said it is working with residents and partners to explore collective approaches to coastal management, but Mr Lebus said meaningful progress would be difficult without additional financial backing.
“The fact of the matter is, this cannot be done without money,” he said. “The council itself is probably powerless without the help of the voluntary sector, which is going to be financing everything that goes on here.”
Sizewell response
In a statement, Sizewell C said it had already carried out extensive research into coastal processes as part of its planning application and would continue to provide technical support.
A spokesperson said:
“As part of the Sizewell C planning process, we carried out extensive research into local coastal processes. Although this information is already publicly available, we are committed to helping the community access and interpret it. Our marine engineers will also share their expertise with East Suffolk Council, which is working directly with those affected.
“We will continue working closely with the council and remain ready to identify any further ways in which we can offer relevant support.”
East Suffolk Council has reiterated that the government funding is intended to support long-term adaptation and relocation planning rather than immediate coastal defence works, with officers continuing to engage directly with affected residents.