Enjoy all the benefits of a coastal lifestyle

Dreaming of living by the seaside doesn’t have to be a pipe dream if you head to Seaham, which has rapidly developed over the years.

With its affordable property and top local amenities, this small seaside town could be one of the smartest areas to invest on the north east coastline.

“I believe Seaham has been improved substantially over recent years,” explains Gaynor Watson branch manager and valuer at Dowen Surveyors and Estate Agents.

“In particular, the seafront and the harbour seem to attract many visitors from out of the area.”

As Gaynor explains, Seaham has rapidly developed over the years, especially its beautiful coastline, which has now been returned to its former glory after colliery waste disposal from Seaham’s three deep mines nearly destroyed the seafront during the nineties.

The pollution was naturally cleaned by the sea — something which the locals have deemed to be a “miracle”.

You don’t have to be on the seafront to see what else Seaham has to offer though.

This small coastal town has its landmarks as well.

St Mary the Virgin Church, for example, is one of the 20 oldest surviving churches in the UK – and there are also plenty of local amenities to cater for families.

“Seaham has a range of modern restaurants and shops too, and is within a 10-minute drive of Dalton Park Retail Park, which has been newly developed and now offers restaurants and a cinema,” adds Gaynor.

Seaham’s property market is varied and affordable for first time buyers too –and its industrial past means that there is a real mixture of properties.

“There are a range of house styles, from the terraced houses which were occupied by miners when the pits were open, to luxury detached properties,” explains Gaynor.

According to Dowen, there is no average house price in the area either as prices can start as low as £20,000 and rise up to £500,000.

“In particular, East Shore Village, which is situated close to the coast, seems to be extremely popular for a variety of buyers up to approximately £350,000,” adds Gaynor.