With more than 800 beaches dotted across the English coast, investing in a seaside property is a tempting prospect for many property investors due to the popularity of seaside living amongst owners and renters alike – but in some regions, getting a property close to the beach comes with a hefty price tag. New research has revealed the coastal counties commanding the steepest premiums, and the areas investors can still snap up a beachside bargain. Join us as we discover England’s most expensive and affordable beach locations…
There are an estimated 832 beaches in England located in 23 of the nation’s 48 counties. Cornwall and Devon are home to the most beaches, accounting for 142 and 131 respectively. Dorset boasts 69 beaches, followed by Kent (56), Northumberland (43), the Isle of Wight (41) and Norfolk (40).
While Cornwall and Devon may be home to the greatest number of beaches, they don’t top the list when it comes to the most expensive location. That title goes to West Sussex, where the average property costs £382,755, some 31.2 per cent above the national average of £291,640. West Sussex is home to 27 beaches including, West Wittering, Bosham Quay, Worthing and Littlehampton. Investors looking to buy within easy reach of Hampshire’s 19 beaches, which include Hayling Island, Southsea Beach and Milford-on-Sea, will pay the next highest premium of 24.7 per cent equating to an average house price of £363,589. Essex (£359,445), Kent (£352,925) and Dorset (£336,691) also rank among the priciest beach locations.
However, for buyers willing to look further north, beach access doesn’t have to come at such a premium. In County Durham, the average property price is just £136,182 – a huge 53.3 per cent below the national average – despite being within reach of 16 beaches, such as Seaham, Seaton Carew and Crimden Dene. Tyne & Wear also offers coastal proximity at 41.8 per cent below the national average (at £169,672), followed by Lancashire at £185,343 (-36.4%), Merseyside at £192,676 (-33.9%) and Cumbria at £199,919 (-31.5%).
“England benefits from having beaches north to south and east to west, but when talking about house price premiums, it’s the southern beach counties that command the biggest values while property in the likes of Durham, Tyne & Wear, and Lancashire remain well below the national average,” said Tim Simmons, Sales & Marketing Director at Regency Living, which conducted the research.
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