An upturn in popularity is giving residents concern about the future
Seahouses, a charming village in Northumberland, has been crowned the most profitable spot for holiday lets in the UK, but locals are clamouring for “balance” to safeguard its future.
The town boasts an array of boutique shops, quirky cafes, and restaurants, including renowned fish and chip shops. This year also marks the first full summer since 2019 that the Farne Islands are open for visits to see puffins and guillemots on Inner Farne, with boat trips setting sail from Seahouses’ scenic harbour.
The picturesque seaside town is riding high on a wave of tourism success, but this upturn in visitors has caused a rift among residents and business owners with many expressing concern over the seasonal swarm of holidaymakers.
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Rental income increased by 36% to £29,700 in 2023 according to recent data, but this has increased house prices for locals and forced young people out as they can no longer afford to buy in the area.
While tourism is vital for places like Seahouses, the rise in property prices is also creating a workforce shortage that could ultimately impact the very tourists they rely on. Julie Dawson, a local business owner, is struggling to find staff and is concerned about the changing character of her village.
Local business owner Julie Dawson is at her wit’s end trying to find staff, lamenting the transformation of her village as it loses its charm. She told the Daily Express: “I don’t mind some tourism, but there needs to be a balance as there are far too many now. Too many second homes, and no affordable housing for our children.
“It’s a vicious cycle as more tourism needs staff to run businesses but no permanent housing chases the working-age people out.”
Another resident, Robert Glass, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the dire housing situation for locals. He said: “This area massively depends on tourism but the preponderance of second homes, holiday lets, and Airbnbs has meant there is virtually nowhere affordable for local people to live unless they are on big wages.”
The influx of visitors has also led to overflowing car parks, contributing to increased pollution levels, while residents have noticed “huge” queues of tourists waiting to cross roads swamped with traffic.
A third resident, Rach Douglas, said: “What is needed is balance. This can only come from investment in social and affordable housing for residents and investment in social, educational and economic services for those residents of all ages.”
Meanwhile, just a stone’s throw away along the coast, the second homes saga has been stirring up strong feelings in Beadnell. In 2022, a scathing report by the Campaign to Protect Rural England highlighted that spots like Beadnell and Seahouses could be “strangled” by an overwhelming number of holiday-let properties.
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