2 County Durham locations among UK's cheapest coastal areas

It comes as new analysis from property website Rightmove, has revealed the most expensive and cheapest coastal areas.

The study which analysed the prices of more than 200 coastal areas across Great Britain found that Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset is the most expensive coastal area, with a current average asking price of £1,582,331.

By contrast, Saltcoats in Ayrshire, Scotland is the cheapest coastal area, with an average asking price of £114,365.

Where are the cheapest coastal spots in County Durham?

Easington in County Durham is second (£122,520), and Peterlee is third (£124,593).

Peterlee is also the current price hotspot, with average asking prices in the area up by 15% compared to this time last year – though average prices in Peterlee are still significantly lower than the regional average.

The next nearest price hotspot is Heysham, in Lancaster, where average prices are up by 7% compared to this time last year.

Over the last couple of years, the pandemic trend of more people looking to coastal areas over cities has been reversing.

Tips for first-time buyers

This year, Rightmove said the cities of Glasgow, Bristol and Edinburgh are now more searched for than the coastal county of Devon, which was previously in third place this time last year.

London and Cornwall remain in first and second place respectively.

Recommended reading:

• 'Number one road' in County Durham among best streets in Britain - is it yours?
• Durham's 10 cheapest and most expensive streets revealed in new property data
• 2 North East 'hidden gems' among most affordable picturesque places to buy a house

The 10 cheapest coastal areas in Britain revealed

1. Saltcoats, Ayrshire - £114,365 (average asking price)
2. Easington, County Durham - £122,520
3. Peterlee, County Durham - £124,593
4. Ashington, Northumberland - £132,660
5. Bootle, Merseyside - £133,197
6. Grimsby, Lincolnshire - £135,951
7. Girvan, Ayrshire - £139,547
8. Maryport, Cumbria - £140,437
9. Workington, Cumbria - £141,765
10. Hartlepool - £146,674

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert commented: “Whilst the pandemic-driven surge for seaside areas has calmed down and reversed back to more normal levels, areas around Great Britain’s coast continue to be popular with many people.

“Particularly at this time of year, many people consider what a home by the sea and away from the hustle and bustle of a city could look like, or perhaps explore estate agents’ windows while on holiday.”