🔗 Share this article A Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Affluence and Deprivation Now Sit Side by Side in Across England. Within a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, residents live in properties only a few metres from their wealthier counterparts in nearby Scartho. One 1.8-metre-high barricade physically separates the two areas in the town of Grimsby, sealing off paths and streets that once linked them. “It’s the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, 37. “It’s been like this since I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.” An Increasingly Common Pattern Across the Country Data from government statistics shows the extent of inequality often exists, at times over nothing more than a few metres of asphalt, a line of hedges or a barrier. Years of budget cuts and lack of funding mean almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the country. This spread of poverty has led to a significant rise in the number of locations where disadvantaged and affluent people find themselves as immediate neighbours. Just a few years ago, only 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the wealthiest. That figure rose to 119 in the most recent data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land At this Lincolnshire site, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly obvious. The wall is much more than a metaphorical division; it causes very real problems for everyday life. The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes become an sixty-minute journey. Access to important amenities like grocery stores, educational facilities and employment centres is hindered. The area can attract antisocial behaviour, with instances of litter being thrown over the wall and other issues. “You try to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, gesturing towards the rusted barricade. Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Challenges Within a local community centre, workers emphasise that support transcends addresses. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” explained director Tracey Good. Despite ranking in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, Nunsthorpe retains a strong sense and feeling of community among its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Scartho is classified among the least deprived 10% overall. A Similar Story: Stanhope in Ashford This pattern is repeated nationally. The Stanhope area in Ashford, Kent, a mid-century housing development, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is immediately adjacent by spacious detached homes built in the early 2000s that sit in the top 10% for job prospects and living environment. “They might have larger properties, but here there’s a stronger community,” said 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 Stanhope estate, while on the other side equivalent homes go for about £410,000. Residents speak of a tangible feeling of neglect. “This part of the community is neglected,” stated resident Susan. “Over here our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the community problems here are related to poverty.” The rise in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a portrait of an increasingly divided society, where prosperity and need are often awkwardly in close proximity.
Within a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, residents live in properties only a few metres from their wealthier counterparts in nearby Scartho. One 1.8-metre-high barricade physically separates the two areas in the town of Grimsby, sealing off paths and streets that once linked them. “It’s the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, 37. “It’s been like this since I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.” An Increasingly Common Pattern Across the Country Data from government statistics shows the extent of inequality often exists, at times over nothing more than a few metres of asphalt, a line of hedges or a barrier. Years of budget cuts and lack of funding mean almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the country. This spread of poverty has led to a significant rise in the number of locations where disadvantaged and affluent people find themselves as immediate neighbours. Just a few years ago, only 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the wealthiest. That figure rose to 119 in the most recent data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land At this Lincolnshire site, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly obvious. The wall is much more than a metaphorical division; it causes very real problems for everyday life. The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes become an sixty-minute journey. Access to important amenities like grocery stores, educational facilities and employment centres is hindered. The area can attract antisocial behaviour, with instances of litter being thrown over the wall and other issues. “You try to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, gesturing towards the rusted barricade. Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Challenges Within a local community centre, workers emphasise that support transcends addresses. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” explained director Tracey Good. Despite ranking in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, Nunsthorpe retains a strong sense and feeling of community among its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Scartho is classified among the least deprived 10% overall. A Similar Story: Stanhope in Ashford This pattern is repeated nationally. The Stanhope area in Ashford, Kent, a mid-century housing development, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is immediately adjacent by spacious detached homes built in the early 2000s that sit in the top 10% for job prospects and living environment. “They might have larger properties, but here there’s a stronger community,” said 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 Stanhope estate, while on the other side equivalent homes go for about £410,000. Residents speak of a tangible feeling of neglect. “This part of the community is neglected,” stated resident Susan. “Over here our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the community problems here are related to poverty.” The rise in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a portrait of an increasingly divided society, where prosperity and need are often awkwardly in close proximity.