Lyme Regis: Resort's house prices among most expensive in UK (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Resort's house prices among most expensive in UK

11:30am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Lyme Regis By Anne Bell

FIGURES showing that Lyme Regis has some of the highest seaside house prices in the country has renewed the momentum to create a Community Land Trust for the town.

A survey this week put Lyme at number six in the top ten of the most costly seaside towns in England and Wales with an average house price of £373,841.

Average prices in these towns by the sea have soared by 97 per cent over the past ten years, a bigger rise than the typical 95 per cent increase seen across England and Wales according to the Halifax.

Since 2002, prices have more than doubled in around half of seaside towns in England and Wales, according to the findings taken from the Land Registry database.

The high house prices in Lyme Regis area puts local homes out of reach of many local people and first-time buyers. The Lyme Regis Development Trust is keen to develop a Community Land Trust, which would create an area of homes which would stay affordable in perpetuity.

West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin has urged the LRDT to make the most of opportunities offered by the new Localism Act to create an area of affordable homes.

Now Wendy Davies, chairman of the Development Trust, is actively seeking a volunteer to help get the new project up and running.

She said: “Unlike many voluntary opportunities in Lyme, this is a finite task, with no obligation necessarily to be involved in the longer term.

“Anyone interested who would like to know more should contact me on 01297 445021 or on <&bh"mailto:wendy@lrdt.co.uk">wendy@lrdt.co.uk<&eh>.”

Lyme Regis estate agent Kevin Hunt, a director of Fortnam, Smith and Banwell, said although he was surprised that Lyme prices were so high in the league table, seaside towns tended to be less affected by the financial crisis than elsewhere.

“Everybody likes the idea of living by the sea. There is a nice variety of property in the town and perhaps it is that bit more accessible to people from London or the Home Counties,” he said.

Top ten pricey seaside towns

Here are the most expensive seaside places in England and Wales and the average house price according to the Halifax survey.

1. Salcombe, South West, £528,920

2. Sandbanks, South West, £525,927

3. Aldeburgh, East Anglia, £418,415

4. Padstow, South West, £382,806

5. Dartmouth, South West, £381,788

6. Lyme Regis, South West, £373,841v 7. Lymington, South East, £350,287

8. Wadebridge, South West, £348,986

9. Budleigh Salterton, South West, £348,514

10. Bigbury on Sea, South West, £319,557