Fury as new homes to be built just 65ft from a cliff edge on one of Europe's fastest eroding coastlines where the sea has destroyed 170 chalets

The sea views will be magnificent, but a decision to allow new homes to be built close to a cliff edge on one of Europe's fastest eroding coastlines has caused a wave of anger.

Councillors originally refused planning permission for a housing development on a field next to the coast at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, amid long-standing concerns about erosion and the power of 'Mother Nature.'

But the Government's planning inspector has allowed the scheme to go ahead on appeal – much to the anger of local residents, who could have their own sea views ruined by new dormer bungalows and are even threatening to block the construction work.

There has been a ten-year row with local residents over development of the land, which the Hare family acquired from a wealthy local solicitor. The local authority has refused attempts to build there in the past due to erosion concerns.

That has now changed with the controversial ruling.

The number of houses to be built has yet to be specified, but the planned site is said to be around 20 metres or 65ft from the cliff edge.

A £7 million flood defence scheme in the form of a new bank of rock boulders to protect the clay cliffs was completed in 2021.

According to an official flood risk assessment these new defences would keep the housing scheme safe for over 100 years.

Before the 'rock armour' was put in place the rate of erosion of the soft boulder clay cliffs had increased from four metres to six metres a year.

In an era of climate change many residents simply don't believe reassurances that it is safe to build new homes so close to this coastline and fear the power of the sea is being under-estimated.

Objecting to the original planning application, local residents Christopher and Debra Morfitt commented that 'the wholly unsubstantiated statement that the land will be protected for 100 years is extremely questionable and misleading.'

Another resident Susan Clappison wrote: 'In this age of climate change and rising sea levels I am surprised that the council are even considering recommending this scheme of placing bungalows so close to the cliff edge for approval.'

Down at the seaside cul-de-sac residents are reluctant to speak publicly for fear of aggravating the situation but are shocked by the planning inspector's ruling.

Over the past 30 years the sea has taken 170 chalets at the nearby Golden Sands Holiday Park and few believe the battle to stop the cliffs eroding is won.

One local said: 'If that land was meant to be built on it would have been built on years ago.

'There may be sea defences below but the caravan park just up the coast has already been devastated.

'Our worry is if they build two dormers it will not stop there. Apart from causing parking chaos it will ruin the sea view.'

Another resident promised 'resistance.' 'We can park our cars in the road to block it and no one can stop us because officially it is a dead end.

'The moment they start construction there will be a building skip in the way. No one wants these new houses.'

The Hare family already has a number of shacks and caravans on its land and appear to have won the battle to develop the coastal spot further.

A flood risk assessment report written on the family's behalf by civil engineer John Peyman dismissed concerns about flooding and coastal erosion.

It stated the site was 'within the very low risk category having a chance of flooding in any given year of less than 0.1% and therefore not considered to be an inherent flood risk.'

The report added that 'protection from coastal erosion is provided for the lifetime of the development' by new sea defences.

The planning inspector who gave the go ahead was sent photographs allegedly showing an ongoing erosion issue, but the inspector concluded 'I was unable to distinguish any erosion to the cliff face behind the sea defences'.

The threat of coastal erosion nationwide appears to be growing.

According to a survey from One Home using government data, 21 villages and hamlets in England will lose more than half a billion pounds worth of residential property to coastal erosion by 2100.