A PICTURESQUE seaside town has become the staycation capital of the north, according to one estate agency.

The winning combination of the boom in UK holidays this year and a Town Fund grant of £17.1 million has meant that Whitby is now the go-to coastal resort in the north of England, says Hendersons.

Nick Henderson, founder and managing director of Whitby-based Hendersons Estate Agents, said that the future has never looked so bright for his home town.

“Once upon a time, Whitby was regarded as one of the least desirable towns in Yorkshire, a run-down, neglected unemployment blackspot. Its recent renaissance is absolutely remarkable, with investment pouring in and the town centre a sparkling mix of great restaurants, unique independent retailers and a wonderful sense of atmosphere and history.

“The investment opportunities in holiday cottages and buy-to-let properties are mouth-watering. Whitby has never had it so good. A classic example is award-winning Caedmon Homes’s superb Spa Well Court development, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the town centre.

“The yields on the remaining five properties at Spa Well Court is exceptional. Based on an annual rental, the return would be 8.94 per cent or £22,000.

“The havoc wrought by Covid-19 means that overseas travel is not seen as an option by many people for the foreseeable future and so the idea of a British holiday home at Whitby on Yorkshire’s majestic East Coast has become extremely attractive,” he added.

Nicholas Goodall, who has bought one of the apartments in Compass House, explained: “I am excited to be investing is such a great Whitby development. Having decided to invest in the town, this was an easy choice and it came down to a few important factors.”

Nick Henderson said: “The town has just been named the most in-demand seaside location in the whole of the UK by Rightmove, based on research into how many people were inquiring about new homes by the sea. I’m not surprised.”