Why is Jaywick so deprived?

Jaywick's run-down state stems from its origins as cheap, temporary holiday chalets not built for permanent housing, combined with poor infrastructure (roads, drainage) initially provided by residents, economic decline after the 1980s closure of local attractions like Butlin's, and severe flooding risks that deter investment, leading to low income, high unemployment, and dilapidated conditions despite ongoing regeneration efforts.

Is Jaywick a safe place to live?

Crime in Jaywick

These figures indicate that personal safety and community conduct are the primary concerns for the local area. Property crime, which includes burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and shoplifting, occurs at a rate of 37.5 per 1,000 residents. This is higher than the UK average property crime rate of 32.3.

Is there a nice part of Jaywick?

The beach is lovely, the caravan parks are kept nice and clacton is a stones throw away which to be fair isn't as bad... Review snippets are selected by AI for relevance and recency and represent the opinions of Tripadvisor users, not Tripadvisor LLC. Learn more.

Is Jaywick the poorest place in England?

Jaywick has been identified as the most deprived neighbourhood in England for the fourth time in a row. The UK has had six prime minsters since the seaside village near Clacton in Essex first received the label in 2011.

What is the least white town in the UK?

The city with the lowest White British population as a percentage was Leicester (40.9%) – also the only city below 50% – while the lowest for unitary authorities was Slough (34.5%), followed by Luton (44.6%).

Inside England's Most Deprived Town: The Truth 🇬🇧

Do people still live in Jaywick?

Despite being marketed as holiday homes, many of the original houses became permanent residences due to post-war housing shortages in London, and by 1950 there was a significant year-round population. Jaywick now includes large numbers of retired and unemployed people.

What is the most run down town in the UK?

There isn't one single "most run-down" town, as it depends on the metric, but recent reports frequently cite Walsall (West Midlands) as Britain's most deprived for overall quality of life (Good Growth for Cities Index 2025), while Jaywick (Essex) is repeatedly named England's most deprived neighbourhood by government data. Other towns often mentioned for significant decline due to economic hardship, unemployment, and urban decay include areas in Blackpool, Hastings, and Middlesbrough, alongside places like Portsmouth and Aldershot facing specific challenges.
 

Is Jaywick up and coming?

Jaywick Sands has great potential — a proud place with community spirit that's driving forward real change. While the latest Indices of Multiple Deprivation may highlight the scale of the challenge, they don't reflect the progress made since 2019 or the strength of the people who call Jaywick Sands home.

Why are houses in Jaywick so cheap?

Located Near Clacton-on-Sea – Jaywick is a popular seaside town in Essex known for its pier, amusement arcades, and tourism. Low Property Prices – Due to its economic struggles and infrastructure issues, Jaywick has some of the lowest property prices in England, attracting buyers looking for affordable housing.

How many people in Jaywick are on benefits?

A 2011 report in The Guardian found that 62% of working age residents in Jaywick received benefits, compared to 15% of the national average………

What has happened in Jaywick?

A plot of land in Jaywick which has been used as a dumping ground for more than a year is finally due to be cleared. Ten properties in Beach Way were evacuated when a devastating blaze ripped through homes, burning three down to the ground. The fire happened on August 8, 2024, and left a number of people homeless.

What is the crime rate in Jaywick UK?

Annual total crime rate in West Clacton & Jaywick Sands (ward) is 129 per thousand resident population. This can be rated as 5 out of 10 or medium crime level compared to other wards in England and Wales.

Why was Jaywick built?

It was with the advent of motoring becoming popular among the London middle classes that an adventurous entrepreneur, Frank Christoffer Stedman arrived on a frosty Spring morning in 1929 looking for a location to develop a resort for those burgeoning motorists to buy, quite cheaply, their very own 'place by the sea'.

Does Jaywick still exist?

Jaywick is a small settlement, tucked in between Clacton-on-Sea and the marshes and dunes of Colne Point. Built in the 1930's as a holiday village of chalets for London's East Enders it now has a year round population of people, as well as many visitors in caravans, enjoying the golden beaches of Jaywick Sands.

What is the roughest city in the UK?

There isn't one single "roughest" city, as rankings vary by data source and crime type, but Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Bradford, and London boroughs like Westminster consistently appear high for overall crime or violent crime rates per capita in recent data (2024-2025), with issues like theft, assault, and antisocial behavior prevalent. Other cities frequently cited include Coventry, Liverpool, and Nottingham, often due to specific issues like knife crime or violent offenses. 

What is the gloomiest city in the UK?

While "gloomiest" is subjective, Bradford was frequently cited in 2023 studies by Betway as the UK's gloomiest city based on low sunshine, high wind, and rainfall, despite local defenses highlighting its cultural vitality. Other contenders often mentioned for dreary weather include Aberdeen, Blackpool, Glasgow, and Preston, though different metrics (sunshine vs. rain) yield varied results, with some recent surveys also pointing to places like Havering or Slough in terms of overall "miserable" living conditions.
 

Are there adders in Jaywick?

They will come and identify the snake or lizard, because adders are often mistaken for harmless grass snakes, and advise what to do. The RSPCA recently collected an adder from a homeowner in Jaywick who had caught it in a cardboard box. It was released to its natural habitat along the seawall.

What is the population of Jaywick?

Jaywick has a population of about 5,000, of which 97% are ethnically white and 38% aged over 65 (more than double the national average) in the 2021 census. 62% of the population live on some form of government benefit.

Is Jaywick Beach clean?

Seven beaches in Essex have been handed an excellent water quality rating by the Environment Agency . The beaches were Walton, Frinton, Holland-on-Sea, Clacton, Jaywick, Dovercourt and Brightlingsea.

Where are the least immigrants in the UK?

Although less than 10% of the total UK-born population lived in London, the city was home to one-third of the total foreign-born population in the country. Northern Ireland, the North East, and Wales were the least popular destinations for migrants.

What are the blackest cities in the UK?

• London.
• Birmingham.
• Manchester.
• Leeds.
• Nottingham.
• Coventry.
• Sandwell.
• Leicester.