Sandbanks retains top spot as the most expensive seaside town, while Bexhill-on-Sea offers the best quality of life of Britain’s seaside towns
Nitesh Patel, housing economist at Halifax, commented: “A breath of fresh sea air coupled with great scenery has strong appeal for homeowners and often property in coastal areas has a hefty price tag attached to it. Our research demonstrates that for homebuyers who dream of ‘being beside the seaside’ there are good value hotspots where you don’t compromise on the standard of living. Towns in Yorkshire and Scotland have rated highly on our ‘quality of life’ index and have reasonable prices that are affordable on local incomes.
“Many seaside towns, particularly in the South West, offer an excellent quality of life but with house prices to match. Despite house price falls between 2007 and 2009 in all but four seaside towns across the UK, the South West remains the most unaffordable region. Millionaire’s playground Sandbanks is the most unaffordable seaside town but is balanced by residents having a high quality of life.
“Occupying the top spot for quality of life is Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, which not only provides residents with four more hours sunshine a week to enjoy the beach life, but also higher than average employment and earnings, and good health and life expectancy.”
