With house prices across the UK’s most popular coastal hotspots jumping by 4.2% in the last year and expected to increase by 2.5% in 2025, living by the sea can certainly feel like an eyewatering decision. The waterside premium, with homes within 100m of water in England and Wales will cost, on average, a fifth more than the equivalent home over 1km inland according to Knight Frank; but do the benefits outweigh the cons?
Waterside wellbeing
Blue spaces have long been considered a significant benefit to people’s health and wellbeing, so it’s no surprise waterside homes are high up on the wish list for first-time buyers wanting a more tranquil way of life – whether that’s on the coast or near estuaries, lochs, rivers or harbours.
The UK has a fantastic collection of picturesque beaches, lakes and rivers, offering spectacular views all year round. Then there’s the lifestyle aspects, whether you wish to live closer to nature and love being outdoors, a keen cold-water swimmer or like to sail, waterside properties hold plenty of opportunities for their buyers. Waterfront areas often foster tight-knit, vibrant communities making blue spaces happier places to live in overall.
It isn’t just the views and the lifestyle that draws in prospective buyers, research shows that living by the sea can improve our health in several ways. Water has been proven to affect our psyches and just by spending time in blue spaces one can feel lower levels of stress and anxiety, a more positive mood and greater life satisfaction. 2 Although any natural environment – such as forests, fields and mountains – can provide a wellness boost, according to Blue Health research, blue environments were found to be more psychologically vital than any other.
The future of blue spaces
There are predictions waterside living will only increase in value – outpacing the country market – over the next 12 months. The waterfront lifestyle has become more realistic as working from home has become more efficient and as a result, hybrid-workers are more likely to search further afield; compromising a slightly longer commute for a more desirable, rural landscape. 3 As well as a great investment financially, the improvements living near water can bring to your health and wellbeing are second to none. And with searches for cold-water swimming on the rise, buyers will be just in time for the popular Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day dips across the country over the festive season.
Available homes near blue spaces:
Sanderling Reach, West Mersea
For commuters, Colchester train station has regular services to London Liverpool Street in approximately 50 minutes, whilst for travel further afield, Stansted Airport is one hour away.
Price: £395,000 – semi-detached two-bedroom property Information: https://www.cityandcountry.co.uk/find-a-home/sanderling-reach/properties/
Martello Lakes, Kent:
Prices: From £239,995 for a two-bedroom apartment Information: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev000521-martello-lakes/
Hendon Waterside, Hendon
Unique features include: Overlooks the Welsh Harp Reservoir, with a path which marks the perimeter. Great for nature spotting, bird watchers, joggers and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Barratt London’s Hendon Waterside development will provide over 2,000 new one, two and three-bedroom apartments situated next to the scenic Welsh Harp reservoir. The development incorporates landscaped courtyard gardens, with The Green park running through the communal outdoor space. Hendon railway station is a seven-minute walk away and offers services to London St Pancras International in just 17 minutes, while nearby Hendon Central tube station, travel zone 3 and 4, is on the Northern Line, with speedy services to Euston, and the Brent Cross shopping centre is only a 10-minute bus ride away.
Prices from: £325,950 Information: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev000147-hendon-waterside/
Manningtree Park – Essex
Take a tranquil woodland walk or watch birdlife on the mudflats of the estuary, residents can sail, row, kayak or paddleboard on the River Stour. With tree-lined boulevards, over 11-acres of landscaped parkland and garden squares, the development embraces its countryside surroundings whilst benefiting from commuter links to London in under an hour.
Prices: Featured property – £325,000 for a two-bedroom property. Information: https://www.cityandcountry.co.uk/find-a-home/manningtree-park/properties/
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