A novel way of living
THE news that Cornwall may welcome American President Joe Biden to its shores has sent tourism chiefs into a frenzy. He’s expected to be among the global leaders attending the UK-hosted G7 Summit in June, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which Visit Cornwall estimates will generate £50million for the local economy.
Importantly, for one of Britain’s favourite holiday home locations, it will showcase the county’s coast, countryside and culture. Not that it needs help in attracting people to its coastal towns and inland villages, whether as holiday home owners or residents.
As Josephine Ashby, of John Bray & Partners, says: “It’s no secret that the Cornish property market was an overachiever in 2020.”
Demand was high in almost every sector but, she says: “Turnkey properties with fabulous coastal or country views literally flew off the shelf, often unseen by buyers who relied on video tours, virtual viewings and online resources.”
People increasingly want to live in Cornwall full-time, too.Working from home there has been popular for years and 31 per cent of all its homes have access to full-fibre broadband – more than any other county.
This has led to a hybrid residential style, says Josephine: “Buyers are shifting their lifestyles, so owners and buyers of second homes are dividing their time more equally between primary and secondary residence, sometimes swapping their main property for something smaller – giving them a larger budget for their second home.”
John Bray & Partners specialises in period properties or contemporary new-builds on Cornwall’s north coast and has a threebedroom two-bathroom town house for sale in Port Isaac, minutes from its harbour.
Previously a successful holiday let,The Mizzen is a three-storey refurbished terraced house with an open-plan ground floor, log-burning stove and south-facing patio garden. It’s for sale at £545,000 (01208 862601; johnbraysales.co.uk).
WITH similar properties in short supply, off-plan sales for contemporary new-builds are increasing in Cornwall for the second home market, as well as permanent residents.
Regeneration specialists Acorn is transforming a holiday resort on the south coast near St Austell into one of its over-55s Lifetime Living Collection developments.
The original farm was owned by the prominent Rashleigh family that rented Menabilly, in Fowey, to novelist Daphne du Maurier. It was the inspiration for Manderley, the house in her novel Rebecca.
The Courtyard at Duporth is a collection of houses and bungalows in restored Duporth Manor Farm buildings, built around a striking clock tower.There are also new-build houses and apartments available.
The homes are for sale from £310,000 to £750,000 (01637 876000; acornproperty group.org) and are an easy walk to a virtually private beach and about a mile from Charlestown, the 18th century Unesco-listed harbour built by Charles Rashleigh and used in the TV show Poldark and 2019 rom-com Fisherman’s Friends.
Meanwhile Cornish developer Stephens + Stephens is building 32 two, three and four-bedroom homes at The Boundary, on the edge of Truro, Cornwall’s county town and a cathedral city with an artisan market, independent shops, bars, galleries and easy access to both north and south coasts.
Remaining homes range from £495,000 to £550,000 (01872 264775; stephens andstephensdevelopers.com) and have open-plan living rooms, parking spaces or garages and generous gardens.
Helen Stephens, co-director with husband Paul, says: “Sales across all our available properties are swift as people explore the positive possibilities of relocation to Truro or Newquay, whilst others see the major opportunity in investment buys for luxury letting potential, given the current issues around the pension market and the plunge in value of other investment options.”