The thing with some of these cases ,( and I don't know if it is the case here or not ? ), is that councils were maintaining erosion defence barriers, until some time ago, when there was a change in their future plans . So on that basis it would really be the council who should sort either the defences out or recompense anyone who is going to lose their house . If councils decide to build a road where your house is they can just compulsory purchase it no matter how long you have lived there...they will do it and thats that ...so if property becomes at risk due to a councils change in strategy , then they should purchase these properties too ...
For areas where there was no such defence strategy , then tuff...if you don't have insurance ( and I doubt you would be able to get cover anyway , act of God and all that !!) . Sadly not all cases are as black and white as I have explained it here. I do feel sorry for the people , but life is a bitch ..and then you die...thats how the cookie crumbles ...along with the coastline it would seem !!!
cheers
Russ