Property news: The latest from the UK coastal property market

FUTURE PROOFING

The Royal Haslar residential development near Alverstoke, on the Gosport Peninsula side of Portsmouth Harbour, has an illustrious history spanning three centuries. It opened in 1753 as a hospital for the Royal Navy and for 254 years looked after men and women of the military. Now, the site is being reimagined as a luxury waterfront residential village, with retirement and open market homes set in 62 acres of Grade II* listed historic parkland, just a five-minute ferry hop to Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays. Within the development, Canada House dates from 1917 and was the nurses’ main mess for years before being redesigned as 32 one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments, some with panoramic sea views to the south. Extra benefits include a tele-healthcare system, lifts to all floors, communal retirement facilities and private parking. Prices from £265,000. Call 01329 288425 to book a private viewing through Fox & Sons estate agents, and find out more at royalhaslar.com.

GOOD ENERGY

If relocating to Cornwall’s south coast is a pipedream, The Beach House near Falmouth may persuade you. Close to the Helford River, Carrick Roads deep water harbour and Falmouth Bay, it’s located just metres from the pretty cove of Maenporth, and has views towards the Roseland Heritage coast, Pendennis Castle and St Anthony’s Lighthouse. But perhaps the biggest bonus is its sustainable design, with triple glazing, an air source heat pump, a ventilation heat recovery system, and solar panels for under-floor heating. Inside, there are six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a self-contained studio with kitchenette, while the open-plan living area on the first floor opens onto a balcony with superb views. Ditto the master suite on the second floor. Priced at £1,650,000 (01872 261160, jackson-stops.co.uk).

BLISS-OUT BATHROOM

If next year’s renovation plans include a new bathroom, consider installing a freestanding bath for a soak in luxury style. The timeless designs by Victoria + Albert include claw foot baths, slipper baths and Modernist organic shapes such as the Napoli, a low-slung shell (from £3,378), and the Cabrits (pictured), a double dip design that offers support for bathers of all sizes (from £4,209). Extra accessories include a headrest, backrest and bath rack for balancing a glass of wine on (vandabaths.com).

V+A Baths PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT Alison Burke Design + Lars Frazer Photography

SELLER’S MARKET

The latest official figures show that house prices continue to rise, over 12% on average in the last year. Data from estate agent Jackson-Stops also indicates a continually busy market that has seen property listings and exchanges increasing. Says Nick Leeming, chairman of the company, ‘Wider economic factors such as inflation, energy prices and rising interest rates will begin to squeeze the lower end of the market as the year progresses. But for now, it is playing into the hands of sellers who continue to benefit from the buying buzz, as movers look to lock in competitive mortgage rates ahead of further announcements from the Bank of England.’ Jackson-Stops offers coastal homes all over the UK, and 2 Lighthouse Cottages at Black Point, Penmon on Anglesey has just been listed for £1,700,000. The Grade II-listed property was originally built in 1839 for Trinity House pilots servicing the Puffin Sound lighthouse, and has views over the Menai Strait to Snowdonia (jackson-stops.co.uk).

OUTDOOR INVESTMENT

From his Ramsgate base in Kent, Daniel Thumwood creates Harrison outdoor charcoal and wood-burning ovens, a range already embraced by top chefs including Yottam Ottolenghi and Jason Atherton. Harrison at Home ovens are ready to cook in as little as half an hour – steaks and pizzas take a few minutes to sizzle, flatbreads and vegetables less than a minute, while whole birds roast in under half an hour. Made to order using British-sourced materials, the ovens are waterproof and can be moved around on optional wheeled cabinets. Starter model, the Harrison Atom, has an oven for roasting and grilling, a plancha hotplate for searing and frying, and a hob for sautéing. Prices start from £5,400 (harrisonovens.com).

SEASIDE OPTIONS

As demand continues to outpace supply and house prices increase year-on-year, Kent comes top of the county rankings for the number and variety of properties available to buy, according to recent research by estate agent Jackson-Stops. The choice ranges from studio apartments to large, seven-plus-bedroom houses in seaside towns such as Margate (pictured), Herne Bay and Folkestone. ‘With access to vibrant cities, quintessential countryside and scenic coastline alongside fantastic schools, it is unsurprising that so many want to live here and that sellers are listing now to capitalise on a buoyant market,’ says Alastair Hancock, a director at the estate agent. The research also showed that Lancashire offers the best value for money for cost-conscious buyers, with plenty of seaside boltholes available on the Fylde coast.

SUSTAINABLE CHOICE

With practicality and longevity in mind, Fable & Plumb offer a range of sofas and armchairs available in over 200 fabric and pattern options, all of which are washable and removeable. Having replaceable loose covers makes it easier to update your look to suit the seasons, or to reinvent a room without having to buy new furniture. The three upholstery options include Quallofil Blue eco fibre filling made using recycled plastic and prices start at around £980 for an upholstered armchair. Pictured here is the Aesop three-seater sofa in Linara ‘Bilberry’ fabric, a gorgeously soft cotton-linen blend, cost £2,010 (fableandplumb.co.uk).

ALL THINGS BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL

Looking for new fabrics to freshen up your outdoor cushions, parasols and throws? Mind the Gap’s diverse designs offer a riot of options reflecting the Boho tastes of founder and creative director Stefan Ormenisan. Based in Stefan’s native Transylvania since 2016, but with a showroom at the Design Centre in London’s Chelsea Harbour, Mind the Gap’s eye-catching home décor collections are made using the finest quality, eco-friendly materials, including natural linen from Belgium, leather from Italy, cotton velvet from England and wallpaper substrate from Germany and Finland. Find out more at mindtheg.uk.

EXTENSION SAVVY

Named Heavenly Builder by the Federation of Master Builders in 2019, surveyor Deepak Singh Udassi and his business partner, project manager Kuly Sanghera, know a thing or two about extensions, having completed hundreds of them over the last decade through their company, Architecture 100. Deepak decided to write a ‘last word’ book on the subject to help homeowners avoid the many pitfalls that can result in renovation nightmares and soaring bills. How to Extend Your Home and Get It Right First Time (£9.99, Architecture 100 Publishing) provides expert guidance on each stage of the process to achieve an extension that is on time, on specification and on budget.

STAY IN THE KNOW

If you are looking to move to the coast this year, then why not let us do the hunting for you and sign up to coast’s free, weekly, property newsletter, Coast Property. Every week, we update the property for sale with seaside homes new to the market. We also pick out our Property of the Week, give you advice on property hot spots and the more affordable places to buy, along with in-depth features on coastal locations all around the British Isles. You can sign up for free at coastmagazine.co.uk/content/coast-newsletter-sign.

 

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