Ramsgate rated No.1 in major review of “next property hotspots”
Thanet continues to top the charts for homebuyers relocating from London and other cities, with Ramsgate leading that charge after yet another major endorsement.
This came from The Metro newspaper, in a review of “Regenerated towns set to be next property hotspots for commuters”.
A report by global real estate company, CBRE, also suggested recently that homes on the fringes of major regeneration zones, such as Thanet, have averaged a 3.6% higher price growth per year than those in the wider area, with the surge as much as 16% in seaside towns such as Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs in Thanet.
Out of The Metro’s top five commuter towns, Ramsgate was the only seaside town on a list including Meridian Water in Enfield, Goodmayes in Ilford, Romford in Essex, and Bracknell in Berkshire.
With an average property price of £274,010 (source: Hamptons) Ramsgate is also much more affordable than the next cheapest, Bracknell at £345,730.
The report noted that Ramsgate’s seafront was benefitting from a £60m injection through Blueberry Homes’ Royal Sands Ramsgate redevelopment of the derelict Pleasurama funfair (closed since a fire in 1998).
Royal Sands Ramsgate development when complete, will include more than 100 luxury beachfront apartments (from £410,000) a hotel, leisure and retail alongside the beachside promenade.
Blueberry Homes spokesperson Megan Rigden said: “We have experienced a huge demand for Royal Sands’ Ramsgate luxury sea-facing apartments and now have just a few apartments available in Phase 3 after its off-plan launch in November 2021. Both previous phases sold out off-plan.”
The report added that the Thanet area will see £500 million of regeneration over the next three to five years, this includes money from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for Ramsgate and Margate. The area will benefit from improved transport links, additional housing and other major developments around the harbour and seafronts.
The new £34 million Thanet Parkway Railway Station will reduce the Ramsgate to London travel time to just under one hour when it opens later this year.
The report indicated the town’s pedestrianised High Street could use a further injection of cash, but its “main beach is wonderfully sandy and clean and the town’s harbour (which celebrated its 200th year of royal status last year) is picturesque.”
On top of the resort’s growing but still attractive property prices and easy commuting, the report also eulogised about the choices for city househunters: “Property stock is excellent. Think fabulous Victorian villas with sea views (£750,000 to £800,000), pretty ‘inland’ townhouses (around £350,000 to £400,000), and period conversions (around £230,000 for two bedrooms).
“People are taking note. Prices are up 15.6% in the last year alone, thanks to the collective rush to move to the seaside during the pandemic.”
This follows a hot streak for Ramsgate and its Thanet neighbours as city dwellers re-appraised their way of life during the pandemic lockdown, with many choosing to cash in and move out for a beachside and café culture lifestyle.
Researcher Amanda Collison from Property Market-Index, said “Ramsgate ranked as No1 in the ‘Londoners by the Sea’ Property Market-Index Report 2021. The town scored highly in our report for its strong transport links to London, value for money, price growth, cleanliness and beaches, culture and heritage, and education.”
“As more and more investment and well-heeled residents are drawn to Ramsgate, it can only further polish the town's attractive profile in all future reports about the best relocation destinations.”
Thanet was also last year named the sunshine capital of the UK in a national report on ITV based on ten years of MetOffice data for having the most hours of sunshine per year.
Ramsgate itself was identified as a “property hotspot” by a Hamptons’ estate agency last August, while Miles & Barr's 2021 Property Market Report revealed one in five enquiries for east Kent property came from Londoners.
