Published at 14:07, Friday, 18 May 2012

Whitehaven has seen the eighth biggest rise in house prices among coastal towns in England and Wales in the last decade.

Still good value: The average price of a house in Whitehaven is £127,662 – 148 per cent higher than 10 years ago, according to the Halifax

The average price of a house in the town is £127,662 – 148 per cent higher than 10 years ago, according to the Halifax.

Number one in the list of the biggest seaside house price rises is Seaham, County Durham, where values have increased by 183 per cent.

But despite the rise, Whitehaven is still among the most affordable seaside spots in Britain; the priciest coastal destination is Salcombe, in Devon, where the average home costs £528,920.

An even better bet for an affordable seaside home is Maryport, where the average property is selling for £107,434, making it the sixth cheapest in Britain.

Workington also makes it onto the list for the most affordable coastal locations with homes shifting for an average of £113,962.

The Halifax research finds that average prices in seaside towns have soared by 97 per cent over the past 10 years, more than the 95 per cent increase seen for properties generally.

Since 2002, prices have more than doubled in around half the seaside towns in England and Wales, according to the findings.

Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said: “Seaside living often comes with a price. The majority of seaside towns in Wales, East Anglia and the south west have an average house price that is higher than the surrounding area.

“But this is not always the case and good value properties can be found in many seaside towns in the South East and Yorkshire and the Humber in particular.”

Halifax used Land Registry figures to compile the study.

Seaside towns which have seen the biggest house price increases in the last 10 years

1. Seaham, £108,742, 183 per cent

2. Wadebridge £348,986, Cornwall, 173 per cent

3. Padstow, £382,806, Cornwall, 171 per cent

4. Porthmadog, Wales, £175,453, 166 per cent

5. Perranporth, Cornwall, £264,441, 157 per cent

6. Pwllheli, Wales, £203,381, 154 per cent

7. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, £211,484, 151 per cent

8. Whitehaven £127,662, 148 per cent

9. Cardigan, Wales, £175,058, 148 per cent

10. Cleethorpes, Humberside, £119,460, 141 per cent

The least expensive seaside towns in England and Wales.

1. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, £75,063

2. Withernsea, Humberside, £92,356

3. Fleetwood, Lancashire, £101,457

4. Blyth, Northumberland, £102,828

5. Blackpool, £104,747

6. Maryport, £107,434

7. Seaham, £108,742

8. Hartlepool £110,273

9. South Shields, Tyne and Wear, £111,457

10. Workington, £113,962

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk