HOMES with a sea view in seaside towns in Britain have asking prices that are 29 per cent higher than other residences in the same area, new research has found.

The highest price premium for a room with a view is in Felixstowe in Suffolk, where a sea view could attract a 57 per cent premium, or over £143,000 more, according to the research by property portal Rightmove.

The next highest premium is in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire with a 38 per cent premium for a sea view, along with Folkestone in Kent also at 38 per cent.

Overall it found that the national average asking price of a home with a sea view is £304,702, compared to £236,070 for a home without one.

A breakdown of the analysis shows that in Felixstowe asking prices in the town have gone up by 45 per cent over the past five years, compared to a national average increase of 27 per cent, helped by major investment in the town and along the seafront.

There are apartments up for sale on Rightmove by the seafront for over £600,000 and beach huts on Rightmove for just under £20,000.

“The regeneration of the seafront in recent years and some new luxury developments being built have pushed up house prices here, especially for homes that offer the prestige of a sea view,” said Steve Scott, a partner at Scott Beckett Estate Agents in Felixstowe.

“We’ve sold apartments along the seafront for over £600,000, often to people looking to retire or those wanting to secure one now and use as a holiday home until they retire.”

He added that beach huts are shooting up in value, thanks to major regeneration of seaside beauty spots across the UK.

“We’ve had interest from some home-hunters who initially looked at more expensive areas like Southwold, but who now realise they can get more for their money here,” she said.

“The investment in the area has also had a knock-on effect on the price of the beach huts, with some going for as much as £35,000.”