TV shows drive interest in West’s property for sale
FIVE of the top ten places that have seen the biggest weekly jump in online property searches on Rightmove are in Devon and Cornwall.
Looe, Ilfracombe, Callington, Camborne and Newquay all appear in the list, as would-be home buyers search for affordable rural and coastal property.
Looe is at number two. It was heavily featured in last Monday’s episode of the documentary Cornwall: This Fishing life. Ilfracombe is at number three, Callington number seven, Camborne number nine and Newquay is tenth.
Morecambe in Lancashire is even more popular, taking the number one spot, with searches surging by 71% in the space of a week, according to the property website.
Rightmove suggested viewers of ITV police drama The Bay, which recently started a new series, have been browsing to see what was for sale in the town where the show is set and filmed.
The many TV shows about Devon and Cornwall, which have been dominating screens since the start of the New Year, have also boosted interest from home buyers looking for an improvement in their lifestyles.
From Rick Stein’s tour of Cornwall to Julia Bradbury’s walks show and the beautifully filmed Devon and Cornwall on Channel 4, viewers have been gripped and keen to consider a move to the Westcountry on the back of what they have seen.
Andrew McKnight, managing director of MAP estate agents in Cornwall, said: “I was born in London and moved down here in my teens and I’ve never gone back. There are so many things that you can do down here that are hard to find elsewhere.”
He added: “Whenever I turn on the TV, there is a programme about Cornwall.
“Whether it be a fishing show or a cooking show, or Poldark, there is national interest in the county and TV companies would not be making these shows if people weren’t interested in the way of lif down here.”
Rightmove’s director of property data, Tim Bannister, said: “People are watching TV shows such as The Bay and then scrolling through Rightmove on their devices to see what’s available, and that’s why we’ve seen such a big spike in interest for property in Morecambe.
“The same is true of Devon and Cornwall. There are a number of Cornwall-focused lifestyle shows on TV at the moment, and it’s hard not to get swept away dreaming about a life in the South West.
“We already know that rural and seaside areas are rising in popularity, so it’s a trend that bodes well for sellers in these locations.”
As well as searches for homes to buy, those looking to rent are also inspired by TV shows. In Morecambe, they were up 22% over the same period.
With its revamped promenade and stone jetty and its Eric Morecambe statue overlooking the bay, Morecambe seafront also boasts an art deco hotel, The Midland.
The hotel has also been used as a location in the past for another popular ITV show – Poirot, as have locations in Devon, including Burgh Island and Greenway, Agatha Christie’s home on the banks of the Dart.
The average asking price of a home in Morecambe is £151,607, which is 6.4% more than a year ago. Renting in Morecambe typically costs £612 per month.
Laura Fort, a sales negotiator at Ibay Homes in Morecambe, said: “The Bay has certainly put Morecambe on the map in recent weeks. However, there’s lots more to Morecambe than what you see on the show. Eden Project North is a massive attraction that’s coming to the town and will create loads of jobs and really boost the local economy.
“We’re already seeing lots of people moving here from Manchester and London, probably because you can get a real bargain here.”
‘People watch TV and get swept away dreaming of a life in the South West’ TIM BANNISTER, RIGHTMOVE