Tuesday, July 3, 2018




Would you turn this beautiful period property into your own Grand Design? Unique five-bed Edwardian home near Dorset's Sandbanks looks set for the developer's wrecking ball...

  • Unique Edwardian Arts and Crafts property looks set for the same fate as many period homes in the area
  • Developers snap up plots and construct 'Grand Designs' homes
  • The five-bed house is in Poole's St Clair Road is behind the closest road to the beach 
  • It is on the market for £1.15million via fixed-fee estate agents Yopa
It is the most expensive place to buy a property by the British seaside, with old houses regularly bought up and replaced by modern constructions.
Sandbanks on the Dorset coast is beloved by developers who snap up older homes with land, which they knock down and replace with a larger residence or two homes that can be sold at a higher profit.
The phenomenon is spreading out to neighbouring areas, including Canford Cliffs, where a large Edwardian property is for sale for £1.15million via fixed-fee estate agents Yopa.
The five-bedroom house is in St Clair Road in the Canford Cliffs area of Poole, just behind the closest road to the beach and next to expensive Sandbanks.
The large Edwardian property is for sale for £1.15million via fixed-fee estate agents Yopa
The large Edwardian property is for sale for £1.15million via fixed-fee estate agents Yopa
Most of the other older properties on the same street have been replaced with new properties, leaving this unique Edwardian Arts and Crafts property as one of the few opportunities left to follow the trend.
Yopa describes the property in its marketing literature as a 'seaside villa of great charm and character'.
It highlights the large south-facing veranda and balcony, a hand-carved Jacobean-style fireplace, paneling and central skylight in the hall, with even some of the radiators proving to be works of art.
An impressive entrance includes a large south-facing veranda and balcony
An impressive entrance includes a large south-facing veranda and balcony
Back in time: The hallway and staircase includes period-style wood panelling 
Back in time: The hallway and staircase includes period-style wood panelling 
Period features include a floor to ceiling hand-carved Jacobean-style fireplace
Period features include a floor to ceiling hand-carved Jacobean-style fireplace
So why has the site not yet been developed? One estate agent in the area suggests that the plot is not wide enough to get planning for two new homes on the plot.
Instead, Tom Doyle, managing director of estate agents Lloyds Property Group, claims it would be ideal Grand Designs Project for someone who would like to replace the existing property with a new one that they would like to live in rather than sell on for a profit.
He said: 'You might squeeze two new houses on this plot, but it is all about what the property market can take at the time.
The hallway is flooded with plenty of light due to a central skylight
The hallway is flooded with plenty of light due to a central skylight
The property includes some standout period features include this large fireplace
The property includes some standout period features include this large fireplace
Further period features can be found with the stained glass windows at the entrance
Further period features can be found with the stained glass windows at the entrance
Unique features include a large bay with ornamental leaded light windows
Unique features include a large bay with ornamental leaded light windows
The kitchen needs updating - although some buyers may decide to knock down the entire house and start again
The kitchen needs updating - although some buyers may decide to knock down the 
Mr Doyle added: 'St Clair is a good road, one back from the cliff. It used to be full of old bungalows but most of them have now been replaced with new build houses.
'This is a nice plot but I doubt you would get two new houses through planning because it isn't wide enough. The plot only has the required depth. If it could take two houses, it wouldn't be for sale.
'It is a wonderful one for one replacement. It is for someone who wants to create their own Grand Designs and live in it. It is in a good road, near to the beach and the shops in the Canford Cliffs village.
Estate agent Yopa explains that the separate garage would take 'two small cars or one Rolls' 
Estate agent Yopa explains that the separate garage would take 'two small cars or one Rolls' 
Wood panelling, high ceilings and decorative windows can be found throughout the property
Wood panelling, high ceilings and decorative windows can be found throughout the property
The first floor is approached via a staircase with a wood balustrade
The first floor is approached via a staircase with a wood balustrade
The house has plenty of rooms, with this one used as a study and library
The house has plenty of rooms, with this one used as a study and library
The St Clair Road property has five large bedrooms, with this one also having a washing area
The St Clair Road property has five large bedrooms, with this one also having a washing area
Mr Doyle said: 'Sandbanks is two miles away and is a tourist resort. Canford Cliffs is the hub of the area where people live and work.'
He claims that buyers currently pay around £325 per sq ft for homes in St Claire Road that cost more than £1million.
In neighbouring Sandbanks, values are more than twice that amount at £862 per sq ft, with some developments reaching more than £1,000 per sq ft.
The property is on a plot of land in a quiet road in Poole, near the expensive tourist resort of Sandbanks
The property is on a plot of land in a quiet road in Poole, near the expensive tourist resort of Sandbanks
This bathroom has a panelled and tiled bathroom, as well as a heated towel rail
This bathroom has a panelled and tiled bathroom, as well as a heated towel rail
The house is on a plot of land that is too narrow to build two new houses on it, according to estate agents
The house is on a plot of land that is too narrow to build two new houses on it, according to estate agents

No comments:

Post a Comment