Home movers go coastal

UK home movers are flocking to the coast, according to a unique study of over half a million address changes by Royal Mail.

Scores of householders are joining the ranks of celebrities that have famously headed for the seaside including Zoe Ball and Norman Cook, Katie Price and Peter Andre, Clive Woodwood, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tito Jackson (and potentially his brother, Michael) and there are reports that even Hollywood A-listers are being seduced by the allure of the English coastline with the news that Johnny Depp is allegedly relocating to coastal Norfolk.

All but one county with a coastline appeared in the Top Ten Most Desirable Areas to live in the UK.

1 Kent
2 West Sussex
3 Devon
4 Dorset
5 Somerset
6 Lincolnshire
7 Essex
8 East Sussex
9 Wiltshire
10 Norfolk

Calculated by net moves, the study of mail redirection data revealed that, between them, the seaside areas attracted 25,468 new householders who travelled almost two million miles from other regions in the UK for a breath of bracing sea air.

Kent tops the table with an impressive 4,661 moves into the area. Only London and Surrey achieved higher move-in levels, but because they have also experienced significant moves out, neither makes it into the top 10.

Royal Mail’s Home Movers Barometer is managed and compiled by data value management specialist DQM Group, based on 600,000 mail redirection requests from January to June 2008.

Additionally, the survey also reveals the UK’s most loyal areas and whilst Lancashire has an overall net score in the minus figures it has experienced significant internal moves. Other than London, it has the highest number of moves within the county at over 13,500.

The Barometer also shows that the economic downturn hit the property market with the number of moves in March, April, May and June falling to the lowest levels since 1994.

Miles Shipside, Commercial Director of Rightmove.co.uk said: “The market downturn has resulted in a greater availability of houses in picturesque coastal locations. Previously they got snapped up, but now are now are hanging around for longer and the owners are having to consider lower offers. Whilst some people have put their retirement moves on ice, the best time to find what you want is a slower market.”

Adds Eddie Bridgeman, Projects Director for the British Urban Regeneration Association’s Seaside Network,: “As many coastal areas undergo extensive regeneration and substantial investment, the Seaside Network is encouraged to see more people choosing to make their homes in both traditional and new coastal resorts. Being a nation of islanders, Britons have always had a strong affinity to living beside the sea. With an influx of people residing there year-round rather than taking second holiday homes, we will witness the strengthening of these areas’ economies, ensuring our coastal resorts have a sustainable future.”

Colin Bradshaw, Head of Data Strategy, Royal Mail, said: “Royal Mail delivers to 28 million addresses and receives more than 1 million requests each year from home movers wanting to redirect their mail. This gives us unique insight into the movement trends in the UK and allows us to identify the affect the economy has on the property market and also identify property hotspots.”