The future of coastal communities

Summary

A 2020 analysis of coastal towns in England and Wales published by the Office for National Statistics found that coastal towns are more likely to have higher levels of deprivation than non-coastal towns, as well as slower levels of population and employment growth.

In 2021, the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) annual report presented an analysis of health and wellbeing in English coastal communities. The report showed that coastal communities have a higher disease burden across physical and mental health conditions, as well as lower health outcomes including life expectancy, healthy life expectancy and disability free life expectancy.

Coastal communities face the same housing challenges as many other areas of the UK. In some coastal areas these can be exacerbated by high concentrations of second home ownership and Houses in Multiple Occupation.