That iconic Ian Brown quote, as comical as it may be, is one that’s hung over the city for years now, and could have a lot to with why rising numbers of Mancunians are said to be scoping out the property market in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe, but according to several industry experts, the hit ITV drama The Bay probably has a lot more to do with it.
Recent data collated and published by leading property search website Rightmove has revealed that searches for homes in Morecambe surged by 71% in the space of just a week, with the town recording a bigger seven-day increase in searches than anywhere else in Britain.
The average asking price of a home in Morecambe is currently £151,607, which is 6.4% more than a year ago.
The Lancashire town is known for its five-mile stretch of sandy beach and promenade, and streets lined with cafes, restaurants and hotels. Its seafront is home to an Eric Morecambe statue overlooking the bay – which has becoming a popular tourist attraction – as well as a renowned art deco-inspired hotel, The Midland, which has also been used as a location in the past for another popular ITV show – Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
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It was also revealed last November that plans for the Eden Project North – part of a wider project aiming to “re-imagine Morecambe as a seaside resort for the 21st Century” – had taken a big step forward following a £70 million funding bid.
And now, with the return of the ITV show The Bay shining a light on the Northern town once again thanks to its second series, which hit screens a few weeks back, it’s easy to see why people are flocking to Morecambe.
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The first series of the show drew in an average of 7.2 million viewers across six episodes alone.
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Estate agents in Morecambe also believe the recent surge in property popularity is due to the fact you can bag yourself a range of properties sizes for pretty reasonable prices, which is prompting people who live in expensive cities to think about moving.
Speaking on the recent interest, Laura Fort – at Ibay Homes in Morecambe – said: “The Bay has certainly put Morecambe on the map in recent weeks.
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“We’re already seeing lots of people moving here from Manchester and London, [which is] probably because you can get a real bargain and buy a four-bed house for about £150,000.”
It’s not just interest in properties for sale that has seen a recent hike either.
Searches for homes to rent were also up 22% over the same period, presumably from the show’s fans looking for a getaway by the ocean, with renting in Morecambe typically costing around £612 per month.
The recent surge for properties in Morecambe, however, is said to be part of a wider national interest in coastal living that has been identified as of late, with parts of Devon and Cornwall also seeing a jump as people re-evaluate their lifestyles due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to Rightmove data, the top 10 UK locations with the biggest weekly percentage increases in buyer searches are:
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Morecambe, Lancashire – 71%
Looe, Cornwall – 59%
Ilfracombe, Devon – 43%
Saxmundham, Suffolk – 34%
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – 32%
Motherwell, Lanarkshire – 24%
Callington, Cornwall – 23%
Prudhoe, Northumberland – 22%
Camborne, Cornwall – 21%
Newquay, Cornwall – 20%
ITV / The Bay / Ben Blackall
Tim Bannister – Director of Property Data at Rightmove – said: “People are watching TV shows such as The Bay and then scrolling through Rightmove on their devices to see what’s available.
“The same is true of Devon and Cornwall.
“There’s a number of Cornwall-focused lifestyle shows on TV at the moment and it’s hard not to get swept away dreaming about a life in the South West.
“We already know that rural and seaside areas are rising in popularity, so it’s a trend that bodes well for sellers in these locations.”
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The Bay continues on ITV this Wednesday 3rd February.
Property
‘Rare and glamorous’ 1930s house in Salford given Grade II listing
Daisy Jackson
A ‘rare and glamorous’ house in Salford has caught the attention of Historic England, who’ve given it a Grade II listing.
The beautiful 1930s home is in the Streamlined Moderne design, a predecessor to mid-century modern but with a lot of style similarities.
From its arched doorways and parquet floors, to its lavish wall panelling and coloured glass, the home has barely changed since it was designed.
And now, Historic England has taken steps to protect the home for future generations, advising the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that it be added to the National Heritage List for England.
Now given Grade II listed status, the home has formally been recognised for its rare design and its probable connection to renowned local architect Joseph Sunlight (yes, he of Sunlight House fame).
26 Old Hall Road in Broughton Park, Salford, was built in 1935 and is a striking example of the international Streamlined Moderne style, with a largely intact 1930s interior.
Design features include a dramatic double-height entrance hall, sweeping staircase and balconied gallery, plus wide, arched sliding doors that allow the main rooms to be combined into a single space, in keeping with the free-flowing planning associated with the Modern Movement.
The distinctive front door of the home in Salford. Credit: Historic England Archive, Alun BullBeautiful Streamlined Moderne design inside. Credit: Historic England Archive, Alun BullThe Grade II-listed Salford home has probable connections to Joseph Sunlight. Credit: Historic England Archive, Alun Bull
Historic England has said it’s a ‘notable regional example’ of the Streamlined Moderne style, which was made popular through architectural journals and exhibitions such as the 1934 Empire Exhibition.
As well as the remarkable design features, there are original domestic features like bell pushes and a service bell board in the butler’s pantry, which once summoned staff to different rooms of the house.
As for the Joseph Sunlight connection – the celebrated Manchester-based architect and property developer designed hundreds of houses in the nearby Sedgley Park estate, as well as the South Manchester synagogue in Fallowfield (1913) and the Art Deco office block Sunlight House in Manchester city centre (1932).
Although the architect of 26 Old Hall Road is not formally documented, its design quality and Sunlight’s dominant local presence make him the most likely candidate.
Tom Frater, Regional Director – North Historic England, said: “26 Old Hall Road is a rare and glamorous survival of the Streamlined Moderne style in a suburban setting that has changed remarkably little since the 1930s.
“Its listing recognises both its outstanding design and its probable connection to one of Manchester’s most inventive inter-war architects, Joseph Sunlight.”
Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Sports Heritage and Leisure, added: “We are supportive that Historic England has granted 26 Old Hall Road Grade II listed status. It will help to ensure that its unique character is protected for future generations.”
Featured image: Historic England Archive Alun Bull
Property
Molly-Mae Hague revisits first Manchester flat, now on the market for £185k
Daisy Jackson
Molly-Mae Hague’s first Manchester flat is now on the market for £185k – and the star herself has paid a visit to her old digs.
Those who have been following Molly-Mae since before she shot to serious fame on Love Island will have recognised the backdrop of her recent TikTok video.
The 27-year-old reality TV star and businesswoman posed around the one-bedroom flat, dancing to Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘House Tour’.
The apartment is where she lived just before entering Love Island, and where she and now-fiance Tommy Fury lived briefly when they left the show.
And now that exact flat where she really launched her social media career has been listed for sale, at £185,000.
The corner apartment stands on the 17th floor of Islington Wharf, overlooking New Islington tram stop and right on the doorstep of Ancoats.
Her former landlord, who arranged for Molly-Mae to have one look around her old flat before it’s sold, said that she was a ‘lovely, polite and down-to-earth young woman, and an excellent tenant who looked after the apartment extremely well.’
The one bedroom apartment has double-aspect floor-to-ceiling windows which look across Manchester on one side, and out towards the Pennines on the other.
It’s listed for sale with no chain and the option to include existing furnishings (which seems to include the same couch Molly-Mae had at the time).
The flat also has a kitchen/living space, a communal garden, superfast broadband, and is within walking distance of Manchester Piccadilly.
Emily Sergeant -
1st February 2021 
