New research from Halifax Estate Agents shows that seaside towns on the West coast have seen stronger house price growth over the past five years with fourteen of the top twenty located on the West coast against 6 on the East coast.

Halifax’s Annual Seaside Town Review tracks house price movements in 98 seaside towns in England and Wales and this year, the most expensive seaside town is on the West Coast, Sandbanks in Dorset, with an average house price of £508,337.

Sandbanks average price is 62% or £193,959 more than the highest priced East coast seaside town, Lymington in Hampshire (£314,378).

Seaham in County Durham, an East coast seaside town, has seen the strongest house price growth over 5 years (181%). It was followed by five West Coast towns ? Pwllheli in Wales (176%), Rock in Cornwall (172%), Caernarfon in Wales (166%), Maryport in Cumbria (155%) and Tenby in Wales (150%).

But, over the past year the best performer was from the West Coast, Porthcawl in Wales (27%). It was followed by two East coast seaside towns ? Hartlepool in county Cleveland (22%) and Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire (22%).

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Key Findings
- Highest priced seaside town is Sandbanks on the West coast
- East Coast’s Seaham is best performer over five years
- Porthcawl on Wales’ West coast is best performer for the past year
- Withernsea on the East coast is most affordable seaside town
- Welsh seaside towns account for nine of the twenty best performing seaside towns over the past five years.

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The most affordable seaside town is located on the East coast, Withernsea in North Humberside (£94,119). Its average price is 10% or £10,428 less than the most inexpensive West Coast seaside town, Maryport in Cumbria (£104,547). Three seaside towns have an average house price less than £100,000 and all are on the East coast ? Withernsea, Blythe in Northumberland (£95,833) and Hartlepool in county Cleveland (£97,017).In Wales, it’s seaside towns account for four of the fifteen best performing seaside towns over the past year. Porthcawl in Wales performed at 27%. Over a five year period, Wales leads the way, accounting for nine of the twenty best performing seaside towns over the past five years. Pwllheli has been the best performer with 176% growth over five years Halifax added.

Colin Kemp, Managing Director, Halifax Estate Agents, said: “Seaside towns on the west coast have generally seen the largest house price increases over the past five years. Welsh seaside towns have recorded the strongest gains.

Overall, coastal towns still offer value for home buyers. The majority of the towns we surveyed still have a lower house price than the average in their region.”

Seaside Towns – Biggest house price increases 2001-2006