Home of golf host to most expensive seaside houses

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 22:20

ST ANDREWS – the home of golf – is the most expensive place in Scotland to live by the sea, with house prices ten times higher than people's earnings.

The upmarket location now has an average house price of 285,730, research shows.

The survey, by the Bank of Scotland, found that the price of property in St Andrews was more than ten times the level of average local pay in the first three months of this year.

North Berwick, where homes cost an average of 266,759, was the next most expensive.

Nairn, Dunbar, Dalgety Bay, Carnoustie, Ayr, Largs and Oban also help make up the top ten most expensive seaside towns in the country.

At the other end of the scale, Wick in Caithness has Scotland's most favourably priced seaside homes with an average of 80,717 – about 3.1 times the average salary.

The average price of a Scottish seaside property, at 136,605, is 28 per cent less than that in England and Wales, where the cost stands at 189,210.

But house prices in Scottish seaside towns rose by an average of 57 per cent between March 2004 and March 2009.

Nitesh Patel, housing economist at the bank, said: "Property in many seaside towns continues to trade at a premium compared with Scotland as a whole due to the desire of many people to live near the coast.

"Living on the coast has many attractions, such as the climate and a high quality of life.

"Housing affordability has improved in most seaside towns since 2007 due to lower house prices and an increase in earnings."

St Andrews is famous for its golf courses and university and one in three people among its 17,000 population is said to be connected to the campus.

The area attracts wealthy families and many of its former council houses have been snapped up and older buildings turned into flats for students, while the tourism economy is linked to lower wages.

St Andrews now has pressured area status, which means council houses cannot be sold and developers have to include 30 per cent of affordable homes in housing developments.

Andrew Arbuckle, chairman of North East Fife area on Fife Council, said: "We are aware of the price situation and are trying to cater for it but its difficult.

"We have increased the percentage of affordable houses for developers and the issue will be addressed in the Local Plan."

North Berwick, 25 miles east of Edinburgh, acts as a dormitory town for commuters who work in the capital. This has led to a rise in housebuilding and house prices and a constantly increasing population.

After Wick, the top ten most affordable Scottish seaside towns are Girvan, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Thurso, Saltcoats, Arbroath, Leven, Ardrossan and Stranraer.

The bank also revealed the top ten greatest coastal house price increases between 2004 and 2009, with Eyemouth in the Borders heading the list. House prices there rose from 52,180 to 125,290 – an increase of 140 per cent .