Demolition teams start tearing down five clifftop homes hit by storm damage in Norfolk village suffering from coastal erosion

• High tides and strong winds caused collapse of a road in Hemsby last month
• An inspection revealed that five homes were at imminent risk of collapse after 

Demolitions teams have started tearing down five clifftop homes that were hit by storm damage in a Norfolk village suffering from coastal erosion.

High tides and strong winds caused the collapse of a stretch of private access road in Hemsby, Norfolk, last month. 

A subsequent inspection suggested five of the properties in The Marrams should be demolished. Great Yarmouth Borough Council agreed and announced the decision this week. 

The first house was torn down by a demolition company this morning.

Work will last for at least four days, as tides mean it can only be carried out for a limited number of hours each day.

Demolition workers tear down the first of five clifftop homes in the village of Hemsby today

Work will last for at least four days, as tides mean it can only be carried out for a limited number of hours each day

Wrecking machines had to be stationed on the beach (pictured here) due to the loss of the access road, and material will be taken off the beach by tipper truck

Wrecking machines had to be stationed on the beach due to the loss of the access road, and material will be taken off the beach by tipper truck.

The council said the demolition was with the owners’ permission because the homes are ‘not structurally sound and are unsafe’. 

Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ‘While we have known for some considerable time that more properties were at risk from erosion, this remains an extremely difficult time for those people who are losing their homes.

‘Our thoughts are with those affected and our staff have been working hard to provide support and welfare for those who need it.

‘Unfortunately, continued erosion on this stretch of coastline is inevitable and we are working hard with our partners and other agencies to work out how we best adapt to the changing shape of our coast in the coming years.’

The council said demolition would be a ‘complex task’ and access in the area will be limited, with members of the public urged to stay away from the beach for safety reasons.

The access road remains closed, as does a footpath in the area.

The first house was demolished today, leaving the property owners homeless

Workers stood and watched as wrecking machines and tipper trucks were used to tear down the first of the five homes at risk of collapse in Hemsby

The access road gave way at the end of November, cutting residents off and putting homes at risk of collapse 

A Google Earth image showing where two roads on the Hemsby seafront used to be. The front road has completely gone while a large part of the road behind called The Marrams has also fallen onto the beach below

The council said officers have been working closely with residents to offer support and housing options, and staff have been sourcing appropriate accommodation for those who need it.

While demolition work is taking place, work will also be happening to create access to remove a small number of vehicles and a caravan which were left behind when part of the access road was lost.

READ MORE: Villagers whose homes are at risk of falling into the sea are left stranded after access road collapses following a land slip

This comes after the properties were assessed to be at imminent risk of collapse after the access road gave way at the end of November. 

They, and another 35 nearby homes, have been left without a route for their cars or any other vehicles since, including emergency services and refuse lorries.

A 600ft stretch of the access road crumbled away in minutes after stormy conditions weakened the coastline. Many residents moved their cars away from the site just in time.

Communities across the area are at risk because it has one of the fastest eroding coastlines in Europe. 

Hemsby has lost around 220ft since 2013 and six homes there have been demolished this year alone before they collapsed into the sea.

Occupants of the wooden chalet-style bungalows in The Marrams estate say the local council didn’t bother sending anyone to assess the damage until a few days after the road collapsed.

When officers finally came, they handed out letters explaining owners of properties that fell into the sea without emptying heating oil and septic tanks could be prosecuted for causing pollution.

But any villagers pointed out they cannot obey the diktat because tradesmen can no longer reach them.

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