A new partnership will aim to raise awareness of the risks to property associated with coastal erosion for both consumers and professionals.
CoastClear is a newly launched a consumer awareness website, designed to provide homebuyers, households and conveyancing solicitors with essential information on the potential impact of coastal erosion on communities and businesses. The initiative is a collaboration between environmental search provider Groundsure and Coastal Partnership East; one of a group of Risk Management Authorities responsible for coastal management and have a role to play in handling coastal erosion incidents.
The website outlines the scale of the risk, what to do as a homeowner who may already be in an area of erosion risk, including the role of councils and first responders in an emergency. For homebuyers, there is also a postcode checker to verify if a property of interest could be affected by coastal erosion, as well as advice on what to discuss with their conveyancing solicitor about the issue. It is hoped the website and information contained therein will help with ‘heart over head’ decision making, enabling homeowners to go into transactions with their eyes open, and property professionals to appropriately signpost potential risks, much as they do with existing environmental risks says David Kempster Chief Customer Officer at Groundsure.
“Coastal erosion is one of the three main physical risks that will impact property asset valuations and the ability to get insurance and mortgages into the future. According to our ClimateIndex™ modelling, some 42,000 properties are at risk from coastal erosion by 2050. While this number may not be as significant as, say, flooding, we are talking about a total loss of value, as the house succumbs to the sea when the cliff collapses.”
Coastal erosion has hit headline in recent years as images of properties falling into the sea have played out across main news and social media. Charles Krolik-Root, Coastal Manager at Coastal Partnership East added:
“Climate change represents a major challenge for coastal communities which is heightened with climate change and as sea levels rise. The impact of storms and tidal surges continues to change our coastal landscapes and communities. CoastClear is an important initiative which we are championing with the other Coastal Partnership agencies nationwide. While the East Anglian coast is eroding more rapidly perhaps than anywhere else in the country, there is an urgent need for better communication on the risks.”
“We are delighted to be working with Groundsure to ensure homebuyers know how to get access to the right data on the property they are interested in. Affected communities also need to understand our vital management role and what steps need to be taken to accommodate the risks now and into the future.”
The initial roll out includes data relating to the worst affected area on the East coast, but will soon extend to other vulnerable parts including East Yorkshire, Kent, Sussex, Dorset and Devon. Conveyancers are invited to join the scheme at no cost as participating firms that identify coastal erosion alongside other climate risks as part of their standard due diligence and client care. Through the roll out of the campaign nationwide, law firms can connect with homebuyers concerned about the issue as they search for properties along the coast.
For more information and to join an introductory webinar on CoastClear click here.
