Woman, 81, loses second Happisburgh home due to erosion

An 81-year-old woman who is losing a second home to coastal erosion has explained why she has continued to live near her village's crumbling cliffs. In 2013, Bryony Nierop-Reading's home in Happisburgh, Norfolk, collapsed into the sea after it was teetering on the cliff edge. Now the home she moved into eight years ago is one of three properties due to be demolished. North Norfolk District Council has worked with owners to provide a range of options, including financial support of £40,000-£100,000. "I always knew it would go; I was never in any doubt about that; it was just about how long; it happened quicker than I thought it would, which is a pity," she said. In 2009, Nierop-Reading bought a bungalow metres away from the cliff edge, however, this was lost to the sea following a storm. She had been offered £53,000, and moved into a second property in the village. Nierop-Reading said the money enabled her to use a consultant to secure planning permission to live in a static unit in her new garden. She said: "Before I bought the house I had to consider the fact that I would ultimately lose it. My reason for staying is that the further away you are from the coast, the less concerned

Apr 15, 2026 → Apr 15, 2026