🔗 Share this article The Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Prosperity and Hardship Are Found Side by Side in Across England. In a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, residents occupy properties just a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. A six-foot-tall wall physically separates the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that previously connected them. “It’s the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, aged 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I doubt they’ll take it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.” An Increasingly Common Pattern Across the Country Data from official figures shows how deep disparity often exists, at times across little more than a short distance of tarmac, a hedge row or a wall. Decades of austerity and lack of funding have led to a situation where a majority of councils now have a neighbourhood classified as one of the most deprived in the nation. The spread of poverty has led to a sharp increase in the number of locations where deprived and affluent residents find themselves living side by side. Just a few years ago, only 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the least deprived. This number rose to 119 in the most recent data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land In Grimsby, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes tangible difficulties for everyday life. The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes become an sixty-minute detour. Access to important amenities like supermarkets, educational facilities and care homes is hindered. The area often sees vandalism and loitering, with instances of rubbish being thrown over the wall and related problems. “People strive to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, motioning at the rusted barricade. Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Hardship At Centre4, staff emphasise that need does not recognise postcodes. “Your postcode is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” said chief executive Tracey Good. Regardless of ranking in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe retains a fierce loyalty and feeling of community among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally. A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent This pattern is mirrored nationally. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is closely bordered by large houses built in the early 2000s that are in the wealthiest tenth for job prospects and quality of surroundings. “They may possess bigger houses, but here there’s more community,” said Phil Hockley, aged 63. “You’ll probably find a lot of people over there never even talk to each other.” The economic divide is evident: an average three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side equivalent properties go for about £410,000. Residents describe a tangible feeling of neglect. “This part of the community is neglected,” said holistic health worker Susan Riley-Nevers. “In this area our amenities have slowly been taken away, and most of the community problems here are to do with financial hardship.” The increase in these ‘deprivation divides’ presents a portrait of an ever more divided England, where wealth and deprivation are often uncomfortably in close proximity.
In a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, residents occupy properties just a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. A six-foot-tall wall physically separates the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that previously connected them. “It’s the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, aged 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I doubt they’ll take it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.” An Increasingly Common Pattern Across the Country Data from official figures shows how deep disparity often exists, at times across little more than a short distance of tarmac, a hedge row or a wall. Decades of austerity and lack of funding have led to a situation where a majority of councils now have a neighbourhood classified as one of the most deprived in the nation. The spread of poverty has led to a sharp increase in the number of locations where deprived and affluent residents find themselves living side by side. Just a few years ago, only 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the least deprived. This number rose to 119 in the most recent data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land In Grimsby, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes tangible difficulties for everyday life. The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes become an sixty-minute detour. Access to important amenities like supermarkets, educational facilities and care homes is hindered. The area often sees vandalism and loitering, with instances of rubbish being thrown over the wall and related problems. “People strive to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, motioning at the rusted barricade. Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Hardship At Centre4, staff emphasise that need does not recognise postcodes. “Your postcode is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” said chief executive Tracey Good. Regardless of ranking in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe retains a fierce loyalty and feeling of community among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally. A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent This pattern is mirrored nationally. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is closely bordered by large houses built in the early 2000s that are in the wealthiest tenth for job prospects and quality of surroundings. “They may possess bigger houses, but here there’s more community,” said Phil Hockley, aged 63. “You’ll probably find a lot of people over there never even talk to each other.” The economic divide is evident: an average three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side equivalent properties go for about £410,000. Residents describe a tangible feeling of neglect. “This part of the community is neglected,” said holistic health worker Susan Riley-Nevers. “In this area our amenities have slowly been taken away, and most of the community problems here are to do with financial hardship.” The increase in these ‘deprivation divides’ presents a portrait of an ever more divided England, where wealth and deprivation are often uncomfortably in close proximity.