A LOCAL property firm director has welcomed the news that Millport is the third lowest to buy a seaside property in the UK - but believes that the ranking won't last long.

The island features in the high position in Britain’s least expensive locations to buy a seaside home out of the 209 locations analysed, according to Halifax, with the average house price based on figures for the 12 months to December 2022.

The average price of buying a home in Millport is £111,381.

North Coast SNP councillor Alan Hill, who is a director of Largs solicitors and estate agents Robert Duff and Co, believes that it is a good time to buy.

He believes the island is set to see a property boom due to the town's flood prevention scheme and the completion of a new marina in years to come, providing an enhanced offering for house buyers.

He said: "It is good news and will encourage interest locally and people to move to the island.

"The good thing is that the arrival of the flood prevention scheme and a new marina is going to make Millport an even more desirable place to live going forward - and it is somewhere which is relatively affordable.

Largs and Millport Weekly News: Marina vision - How the new marina is expected to look in years to come as part of island Masterplan which will have economic spin-offsMarina vision - How the new marina is expected to look in years to come as part of island Masterplan which will have economic spin-offs (Image: NAC)
"I suspect the fact that it is third cheapest in the UK won't last long due to the beautiful environment, and you have an excellent primary school, and direct access to Largs via the ferry, and it will be attractive to families."

Speaking about the Millport masterplan, Alan continued: "There will be some upheaval and disruption while the flood prevention works are being built and we will be seeing a marina in years to come too and it will be a very desirable place to live with boats coming and going in the local bay.

"Part of the design for the marina project is for it to have a large berth. It could then take a reasonably large passenger boat and possibly direct transport between Millport and Largs/Fairlie straight into town, with the possibility of some kind of seasonal service which will be a nice enhancement, and encourage people not to take their cars."

Scotland dominated Halifax’s top 10 list of the least expensive seaside locations, with Greenock in first place (average price £97,608), three of the top five featuring in Ayrshire with Girvan in 2nd (£105,410), and Saltcoats in fifth (£116,414) in terms of cheapest UK seaside properties.

Inverkip featured ninth as the most expensive place to buy a seaside home in Scotland with an average price at £230,650 - with North Berwick on top with an average price of £440,172.

Kim Kinnaird, mortgages director at Halifax, said: “For many, owning a home by the sea is an aspiration, with coastal living offering beach walks, clean air and other health benefits.

“But this comes at a price in many locations and Britain’s most expensive seaside spot, Salcombe in Devon, will set buyers back over £1.2 million on average.

“When we delve deeper into the cost of Britain’s seaside homes, it’s clear that there is a broad spectrum in house prices.

“Whilst million-pound properties are abundant in the south west of England, in contrast, homes in Greenock in Scotland are valued on average at less than £100,000.

“Second home ownership undoubtedly plays a role in driving up prices in the most desirable locations. While house prices in any location are driven by factors such as supply and demand and interest rates, there are also socio-economic factors at play.

“Some of these factors are more acute in Britain’s coastal communities, and many British towns most in need of investment also sit near the shore.”

Halifax used figures from the Registers of Scotland to make the findings.