Sale rush on £90,000 'beach huts'

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The money from the sales will go towards the Boscombe regeneration project

Fourteen retro-style beach huts with panoramic views of Bournemouth's new artificial surf reef have been sold for more than £1m.

Boscombe's 1950s Overstrand complex has been converted into 48 "beach pods" as part of the area's regeneration.

The pods, which went on sale on Friday, have mains electricity, hot running water and French doors leading on to a private balcony.

Savills called the reaction "fantastic" considering the economic climate.

Glyn Evans, associate director at Savills which organised the sale on behalf of the council, said the reaction "was incredible".

We are still confident of selling all the single and end pods and will be holding more viewing opportunities Glyn Evans, Savills

"A lot of people had worries considering the economic conditions but the demand for the doubles were way beyond what we thought.

"We have had to set up a cancellation list on the doubles because demand has been so high."

The beach chalet complex which formed the first and second floors of the Overstrand building had been derelict for 15 years.

The ground floor, which had also stood empty, has been turned into a restaurant, two surfing shops, a lifeguard station, public showers, toilets, changing facilities and an events office.

Money from the sale will go towards the council's regeneration program which also includes the much-delayed artificial surf reef, anticipated to be completed in September.

The reef was planned for completion by last October, with an agreed overrun to December if the weather was bad.

The cost of it has nearly doubled from £1.4m to £2.7m.