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.
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.
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.
“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:
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
Inside One Port Street, the Northern Quarter’s luxury new 32-storey apartment block
Daisy Jackson
A towering new development in the Northern Quarter has revealed its open date – and given a sneak glimpse inside the luxury apartments.
One Port Street is a £195m development on the doorstep of both the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, standing at 32 storeys tall and boasting 477 open-plan apartments.
And this major new development will also be home to a 2000 sq ft swimming pool, a spa pool, and an urban garden, with a total of 22,000 sq ft of public green space.
The building’s hit a major milestone this month, finally confirming an opening date of February 2026.
One Port Street has been developed by Select Property in partnership with prestigious architects SimpsonHaugh.
Inside, each apartment will offer an industrial aesthetic with exposed textures, and apartments ranging in size from one bed to three.
There’ll be glass balcony balustrades, with a pattern inspired by textile patterns from the Whitworth Art Gallery.
As well as the apartments, One Port Street will have high-spec indoor and outdoor working and socialising spaces, such as a 360° firepit, state-of-the-art gym and yoga studios, and co-working spaces.
CGIs of how One Port Street will look when it’s completed. Credit: Select Properties
On the 7th floor, there’ll be a resident lounge and external terrace, named after a tavern which stood on Port Street 200 years ago, plus a secret room for residents called The Hideout.
Ian Simpson, Founder Partner at SimpsonHaugh, said: “One Port Street embodies the rich architectural diversity of Manchester.
“This development offers more than just a place to live, work, and socialise – it’s a sanctuary within the city’s most creative and lively neighbourhood. It’s a true example of what a sustainable, modern community should be.”
Inside a One Port Street apartment. Credit: The Manc Group
Adam Price, CEO at Select Property, added: “One Port Street is set to be a true landmark for Manchester and represents everything we believe modern residential living should be – design-led, community-minded and connected to its surroundings and local heritage.
“The Northern Quarter has long been the focal point of Manchester’s creativity and culture and this new development takes inspiration from that while bringing something new to the community.
“The response so far has been phenomenal, and as we enter the final phase, we’re proud to be collaborating with local artists and independent businesses to bring the finishing touches to life, ahead of welcoming our first residents. Make sure you join the waitlist to be part of this exciting story.”
One Port Street is set to complete in February 2026 and you can see more here.
Much-maligned derelict Stockport site to be turned into town’s latest tower block
Danny Jones
A derelict site in the centre of Stockport is finally set to be bulldozed and turned into a brand new tower block worth a reported £70 million.
The regularly reviled Victoria House on Wellington Street, situated close to the large, grey Stopford House and opposite a local branch of Grosvenor Casinos, was built back in the 1960s – as its old metropolitan exterior makes evident – and has been tipped for redevelopment over the last decade.
Sitting on the corner of the Greek Street roundabout, it has remained mainly empty since 2019, with various developers looking to transform it into various residential reboots.
Now, nearly 10 years later, the building looks to be finally ready for the next chapter and a new lease of life, with property firm Progressive Living (PL) hoping to turn it into two main eight and 20-storey tower blocks, with tiered levels, different room capacities and rooftop spaces.
The former office building was once part of the nearby Jobcentre Plus branch, just down the road, not to mention one of several similar abandoned and underutilised spaces with untapped potential in the area.
Along with the demolition of the structure itself, the adjacent Fletcher Street car park that sits between Victoria House and the aforementioned casino will also make way for the apartments.
With the planning permission application submitted earlier this year and officially greenlit by Stockport Council on Thursday, 3 July,
Promising a mix of one, two and three-bed properties, the company are planning to build a total of 245 homes, though there has been some criticism regarding affordability – a significant increase on the initial idea to turn the 13,000 sq ft office unit into 21 flats some years ago.
Speaking on the project, PL director David Fairclough said: “We’re delighted to have secured planning for what will be a flagship scheme for Stockport.”
“This approval represents a major milestone for a project that’s been six years in the making, and we’re proud to play our part in shaping the next chapter of the town centre’s transformation.
“With demolition due to start later this year, we’re looking forward to delivering much-needed new homes in a sustainable, future-focused way.”
A CGI of what the new residential tower block in Stockport town centre will look like. (Credit: PL)
Construction is slated to start next spring, and they’re hoping to complete the project by summer 2028.
Developers hope to start demolition works this year, with construction expected to start in spring 2026, and completion targeted for Summer 2028.
Local councillor Micheala Meikle, who serves as the town’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is another important step in transforming Stockport as part of the UK’s biggest town centre regeneration.
“These high-quality new homes will bring more people into the heart of the town, supporting local businesses and making the most of our new transport links.
“With the Mayoral Development Corporation delivering 8,000 new homes and Metrolink on the horizon, we’re building a town that works for the future – somewhere people choose to live, work and put down roots.
“This is exactly the kind of accessible, sustainable scheme we want to see in the town centre — creating homes for all ages as part of a thriving, low-carbon community.”
Emily Sergeant -
1st February 2021 
