Phil Merry and his wife Amy Parkinson thought they were buying their slice of paradise—a quiet 0.7-acre plot on the Norfolk coast where they could open a small campsite.
Instead, their dream has been ripped apart after a shocking phone call from North Norfolk District Council warned that their land might literally fall into the sea.
Plans Dashed After £30,000 Land Purchase
The couple had already sold their bungalow in Nottingham and begun winding down their businesses—Phil as a locksmith, Amy as a landscape gardener—hoping to start fresh near Trimingham.
But after spending five figures on the land, they were told their plan to live in a static caravan and set up five tent pitches with basic facilities was not going to happen.
Unsettling Council Call
What hurt most, Mr Merry says, was the way they were treated during a call with a trainee planning officer.
“Every question I asked, she went silent, and I could hear someone in the background laughing and whispering ‘No, no, no,’” he recalled.
The call ended with the stark message: the site is at risk from coastal erosion, and no building would be permitted.
Confusing Signals from the Coast
Phil and Amy were aware that Norfolk’s sand-and-clay cliffs are prone to erosion, but their research suggested the risk to their land was minimal.
The plot sits 65 feet from the cliff edge, and historical records showed only 16 feet had eroded since 1997.
Official estimates indicated the leading edge wouldn’t be threatened until around 2065.
Seeing nearby houses and caravans perched closer to the cliff gave them hope—but those examples didn’t guarantee approval for their project.
Local Council and Politician Comments
Adding to their frustration, district councillor Angie Fitch-Tillet told Mr Merry he should have researched the area before buying and quipped that his land might only be suitable for goats.
The bluntness stung, but she explained she was trying to convey the harsh reality of coastal restrictions.
Rising Costs and Frustration
The couple has already spent roughly £5,000 on planning applications, consultant fees, and other costs, and they face further financial burdens.
North Norfolk District Council demanded up to five separate surveys—estimated at £6,000—before any use of the land, despite it being largely scrubland with only a single leaning conifer.
Coastal Erosion and Property Risks
The issue highlights a broader problem: coastal erosion is often not clearly flagged in property sales.
DEFRA’s inquiry into Norfolk erosion noted that estate agents are not required to explicitly declare the risk, and buyers are expected to make “informed decisions.”
Nearby Great Yarmouth Borough Council had previously criticized agents for selling cliff-edge plots without surveys, sometimes for cash-only deals.
Estate Agents Offer Support
Phil has not blamed the estate agents who sold the plot, Watsons, saying they have offered to try and recover some of their money.
Watsons emphasized that they provided information regarding coastal erosion, and the plot was listed as “amenity land.”
Facing an Uncertain Future
For now, Phil and Amy are living in a touring caravan while trying to figure out their next steps.
“I’ve been torn to shreds. That was going to be our escape. It’s totally blown our plans,” Phil said.
With limited options for development and a property potentially decreasing in value, the couple faces a harsh reality on the shifting Norfolk coast.
What’s Next
The case raises questions about property sales near eroding coastlines and how much responsibility lies with councils, estate agents, and buyers themselves.
For Phil and Amy, their dream campsite has been paused indefinitely, leaving them in limbo and searching for answers—and maybe a little hope—on the edge of the North Sea.
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