For sale – seaside home that can be rebuilt if needed

Feb 28 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

BUYING a house which lies just a few feet from a cliff being eaten away by erosion might not seem a sensible idea.

But rarely do you have the opportunity to demolish the house and rebuild it on more solid ground.

That will be the option open to whoever snaps up one particular two-bedroom chalet in Low Hauxley, near Amble in Northumberland, next month.

Because it lies around five metres from the cliff’s edge, permission has been granted to the next owner to shift the position of the chalet around 10 metres further back from the five-metre drop.

The property will be up for auction at Newcastle Falcons’ Rugby Club at Kingston Park in Newcastle on March 25.

With stunning views over Coquet Island, auctioneers Pattinson believe it will generate a lot of interest.

Sam Smith, of Pattinson, said: “It’s a completely unique chance. Because the site is close to the cliff edge, erosion is a factor, so the option is there to move it back.

“We are advising that it be used as a second home or an investment as a holiday letting property.

“The previous owner did live there for much of the year though. It has brilliant views of Coquet Island and is right on the edge of the beach.”

The plot on which any new building could be built measures 30m by 25m and backs on to a road linking Amble and Hauxley.

If the owner chooses to demolish and rebuild the chalet, the new building could conceivably be bigger than the existing one.

The chalet now stands on a concrete base which is considerably larger than the house itself and it is the foundations which would provide the template for any new chalet.

“You could make it considerably more impressive,” Mr Smith added.

“As long as the footprint remains the same, the house could be made bigger than the existing house.

“It is still a fair size as it is, but it’s getting to be a bit dilapidated.”

The site was included in a study by coastal engineering consultants Royal Haskoning, who advised Alnwick District Council on the best course of erosion management.

There are already rock revetments in place by the property – structures which fight against erosion by protecting the dune face.

Phil Briggs, engineer and services manager at Alnwick District Council said: “The consultants felt that it would take approximately five years for erosion to impact upon the property.

“They also suggested that an extension to the existing rock revetment could be used to control erosion further.

“We have submitted a plan to Defra for this scheme but we are yet to get any kind of formal response.” The chalet, as it stands, has mains electricity and a working water supply but no gas. There are two bedrooms, a kitchen, lounge and a bathroom. “We have only just started marketing it but I think there will be a lot of interest,” Mr Smith added. The starting bid will be £100,000.

For more information ring 0845 1461581 or visit www.pattinson.co.uk