Nathan Knows: Climate Change - More Likely Than You Think

Will that dream beach home become an aquarium in the next 10 years? Nice bonus if you’re half mermaid!

After a summer of heatwaves, it’s no surprise that many people have been drawn to the beach, and some may even dream of staying there permanently! But, with climate change becoming increasingly relevant to everyday life, is this a good idea?

This is where climate change reports can help. Climate change reports have become more common in recent years because they provide information that searches may not fully address.

Standard environmental searches often focus on current contamination, historical land use, and existing flood risk, whereas climate reports also consider how hazards may evolve over the coming decades. This can help buyers, lenders, and conveyancers make more informed decisions about long-term property resilience, insurance, and potential future costs.

Our focus today is on ‘coastal erosion’.

What is coastal erosion?

(it's NOT just a cool sounding, ocean-themed metal band!)

Coastal erosion is the gradual loss of land caused by the action of waves, tides, currents, wind, and weather. Climate change can accelerate this process through:

• Sea level rise, allowing waves to reach further inland.
• More frequent and intense storms, which increase wave energy and erosion.
• Changes in sediment movement, affecting the natural replenishment of beaches.
• Increased storm surges, which can remove large volumes of coastal material in a single event.

Unlike coastal flooding, which is often temporary, erosion results in the permanent loss of land. So, even if you wanted a nice summer getaway, you could end up hosting Ariel and Aquaman in the same weekend in a few years’ time.

What does the report cover?

When assessing a property, this type of report will check whether the property lies within an area already experiencing measurable shoreline retreat. This considers the following:

• Distance from the current coastline
• Local cliff or dune instability
• Historical rates of erosion
• Existing coastal defences

Climate change reports typically combine several datasets to provide an overall risk, including:

• Historical coastline positions
• National coastal erosion mapping
• Geological information (such as chalk, clay, sand, or gravel cliffs)
• Digital elevation models
• Sea level rise projections
• Wave climate modelling
• Local shoreline management policies
• Existing coastal defence information

These datasets help estimate both current vulnerability and how that vulnerability may change over time, while also sounding very fancy!

What are the risks?

Most climate change reports summarise coastal erosion using a risk classification such as:

Very Low – No meaningful erosion risk identified.

Low – Limited evidence of current or projected shoreline retreat affecting the property.

Moderate – Some potential for future impacts; further consideration may be appropriate.

High – Significant present or future erosion risk identified; specialist advice is recommended.

What this could mean for you as a potential buyer or seller:

• The property’s long-term stability and usability could be affected.
• Property value could be affected due to increased perceived risk.
• Mortgage lending could be affected, as some lenders may seek additional information before lending on higher-risk properties.
• Insurance could be affected, particularly where erosion threatens the stability of the land itself.
• Future maintenance costs could increase, especially if protective measures are required.
• Planning and development could be affected, as restrictions may apply within designated coastal erosion risk areas.

For example, a proposed extension or redevelopment might require additional assessment if the site is within an area expected to experience shoreline retreat.

Although climate change reports provide a valuable indication of coastal erosion risk, they are screening assessments rather than site-specific engineering studies. The predictions are based on the best available datasets and modelling, but they are inherently uncertain because future shoreline change depends on factors such as sea level rise, storm frequency, sediment supply, and the maintenance or alteration of coastal defences. As a result, the findings indicate the likelihood of future erosion rather than providing a precise prediction of when, or how much, land may be lost.

If a report identifies a moderate or high erosion risk, it is common for conveyancers to recommend obtaining more detailed information, such as a site-specific coastal engineering assessment or consulting the relevant shoreline management documentation before proceeding with the purchase.

The beach house of your dreams could still be within reach, but, with the right information considered upfront, you can reduce the risk of ending up sleeping with the fishes!