A gorgeous seaside town in Somerset is experiencing a surge in demand for properties as more people from Bristol seek a coastal bolthole. According to leading property agent David Plaister Ltd, the surge in interest for homes in Weston-super-Mare is outstripping supply, with properties often selling within days of being listed.
Out of every 10 properties sold, between six and eight are purchased by Bristolians, reports SomersetLive.
David Plaister, an experienced property expert, said the number of viewings per property has shot up, with an average of 30 interested buyers compared to the previous average of seven.
The government’s stamp duty holiday and other incentives have contributed to the buoyant housing market in Weston-super-Mare.
“There are so many great things about Weston,” says Mr Plaister, who runs a team of 14 staff.
“The property here is good value for money and we have the seafront, which has benefited from a £30 million investment in recent years and is lovely in summer and winter. The town also has fantastic train links into Bristol with many using the train and taking their pushbikes with them to make the final section of their journey.
“It’s also often quicker to drive from Weston to the centre of Bristol than it is to drive across Bristol itself.”
The increased demand for property has led to the unfortunate return of gazumping, where properties are sold at or even above the asking price.
Weston-super-Mare has experienced fluctuations in its fortunes over the years.
Once a popular seaside resort in the 1960s and 1970s, it faced challenges when cheaper foreign travel became available in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, recent investments in sea defences and the revitalisation of the seafront and promenade in 2010 have helped rejuvenate the town as a seaside hotspot.
Despite the loss of major employers like Westlands and Clarks, Weston-super-Mare has seen the growth of Weston College and the emergence of new businesses even during the pandemic.
The town’s property market shows this positive trend, with developers from Bristol eyeing opportunities to invest.
Approximately 30 to 40 percent of all development projects in Weston-super-Mare are led by Bristol-based developers.
“Over the last 10 years, Weston has really started to bounce back and this has been reflected in the property market,” added Mr Plaister who was born and bred in Weston and still lives there.
