People who have lost their houses to coastal erosion are to get more help through a new scheme that could help them start their lives again in a new home.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has approved a new climate adaptation policy which aims to better prepare for the future along the vast stretch of vulnerable coastline between Winterton-on-Sea and Hopton.

The authority will seek to use the £8.4m 'resilient coast project' cash awarded by the Environment Agency to implement schemes aimed at helping communities adapt to the threat of erosion. 

The eroding coastline at HoptonThe eroding coastline at Hopton (Image: Mike Page)

Carl Smith, leader of GYBC said: "Given the limited national funding available we needed to create a policy that enables the council to devise tailored responses for those affected that address their unique needs."

Under the plans, GYBC will use a range of actions to help people who have lost their homes, such as buying land and homes outside of risk zones for people to relocate to, purchasing at-risk properties and land and offering properties to rent through its council-owned housing company. 

Labour opposition leader Trevor Wainwright (R) and Carl Smith, leader of Conservative-controlled Great Yarmouth Borough CouncilLabour opposition leader Trevor Wainwright (R) and Carl Smith, leader of Conservative-controlled Great Yarmouth Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

Following the decision, Trevor Wainwright, leader of the Labour opposition group at GYBC said: "This policy gives us another string to our bow to help us meet the priorities of the borough and those affected by coastal erosion."

One of the communities that will benefit from the new policy is Hemsby, where villagers have lost 25 homes in the past 11 years.

Campaigners are currently fighting for more help from the government after a licence for a 1.3km rock berm was turned down for government funding due to not enough homes being at risk of being lost to the sea.

READ MORE: Hemsby sea defence campaigners want action against erosion

In January, Steve Reed, minister for the environment, pledged to open the door for sea defence funding in Hemsby.In January, Steve Reed, now minister for the environment, pledged to open the door for sea defence funding in Hemsby. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

They are pushing for the criteria to change, arguing that Hemsby is deserving of funding for sea defences due to the resort generating almost £100m a year for the local economy.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs has said it is planning to set up a new resilience task force to tackle coastal erosion and flooding.