Until now it has not been possible to evaluate coastal risk because there was a lack of suitable property-specific coastal hazard data.

But this latest development means anyone involved in transactions on coastal properties can now search to see all the risks to properties and land caused by coastal hazards.

Terrafirma said its geologists, engineers and scientists have applied advance modelling and extensive research along with its own in-house expertise to provide more information on homes located close to sea.

As part of the investigations, Terrafirma has revealed – as a worst-case scenario – approximately 31,000 properties and around 21,000 acres of land are at risk over the next 100 years from coastal retreat.

This is at 95% confidence, assuming that there is No Active Intervention to manage the coast.

Tom Backhouse CEO and founder of Terrafirma said: “At Terrafirma, we have made it our mission to enable property professionals to understand the ground.

“We have led the way in innovatively translating ground risk into expert opinion and professional advice for conveyancing, but coastal hazards was the one problem left to solve and our experts have worked tirelessly to make it a reality.”

The new Coastal Hazards module, which will form part of the firm’s Ground Report, includes the following:

1. Expert interpretation of the risk to property and land from coastal erosion, cliff collapse, landslides, flooding, and sea-level rise
2. It considers sea defences, Environment Agency’s Shoreline Management Plan, and impact of climate change, supported by professional opinion.
3. It assesses within a typical mortgage lifetime, short-term (20 years) and long-term (50 years) risk of property and land instability or collapse from coastal erosion.

4. The module includes insight into previously recorded landslides and collapse in the vicinity of the site and assesses the risk to property and land, now and in the future with expected changes to respective Shoreline Management Plan.

5. It utilises all relevant coastal hazard data and considers the impact of climate change with a timeline for expected coastal regression at property.

You can find out more using this interactive story map – ‘The Rising Risks to Coastal Property and Land’ – which Terrafirma has created to help promote and raise awareness of the risks coastal hazards pose to property and land across England and Wales.

It details five key coastal locations on the frontline of this battle, and without significant intervention, face the threat of substantial coastal retreat, putting coastal properties and land at risk.

The latest Coastal Hazards update is available today (14 September) and Terrafirma founder and Geologist, Tom Backhouse will be presenting a live Coastal Hazards event as part of Terrafirma’s Education Series on Tuesday 15^th September. You can sign up for the event here.