Household incomes in some of Norfolk's coastal communities are almost £3,000 lower than in inland areas, according to a new report highlighting the plight of seaside towns.
The national study has been carried out to assess the impact of the government's 'levelling up' agenda on parts of the coasts which have suffered from deprivation in recent decades.
The report highlighted low pay as a particular concern and found that coastal areas have nearly one in five jobs below the living wage – a greater proportion than for England overall.
Poorer health, education, transport and broadband links are also identified as areas of concern detailed in Communities on the Edge, a study by Pragmatix Advisory commissioned by the Coastal Communities Alliance and local government groups.
The report says while incomes across the board are among the best in the country in East Anglia, the picture is more complex at local level.
"On regional averages, the East of England has the third highest weekly pay and would appear not to be in need of as much levelling up," it says.
"But when we map pay at lower tier authority level, we can see that communities around the coast have some of the lowest levels of pay in the country.
"They risk missing out on additional support due to their higher earning neighbours if only average regional performance is considered."
The median average weekly pay across the country is now £640 according to latest figures. But in coastal areas, including parts of Norfolk, it is on average £50 less.
The study highlights other ways in which coastal communities remain in danger of being left behind non-coastal areas.
It says people suffer poorer health outcomes, with higher rates of depression, suicide, emergency and alcohol-related hospital admissions.
It also says a higher proportion of children live in workless households on the coast, while disabled people are less likely to find work.
Cost of living pressures are more keenly felt, particularly in peripheral areas where it is impossible to access cheaper mains gas.
MPs on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coastal Communities are set to discuss the report on Wednesday.
Its chair Sally-Ann Hart, MP for Hastings and Rye, said: “The additional challenges faced by people living on the coast are so entrenched that help is needed from central government to stop them falling further behind.
“Our beautiful coastline is an incredible national asset. But it urgently needs sustainable
long-term investment to make the most of the opportunities for growth – particularly in green jobs which can support the government’s climate goals.”
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
The research reveals there is a risk the government’s existing levelling up agenda fails to identify the massive challenges faced by coastal communities.
Its 2022 Levelling Up White Paper analyses performance at a regional or city regional level, missing disparities contained in more local data.
Ministers should consider using the more detailed data to target the communities most in need, and make sure coastal areas do not miss out on levelling up, says the report.
It argues the right support would boost growth and see coastal areas contribute far more to the wider UK economy.
Increases in home and hybrid working are an opportunity for coastal communities to attract more skilled and highly paid workers.
Coastal areas already generate more renewable energy than the national average, and investment in offshore wind farms, wave and tidal power has the potential for even more sustainable growth.
Investing in year-round tourism would also offer coastal communities the chance to benefit from huge growth in the UK’s visitor economy.
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