Lot 14 - Beach Andrea Flimby, Flimby, Maryport, Cumbria, CA15 8PB

Description

ONLINE AUCTION from 6th October-8th October 2026

3.89 Acres of Cumbrian coastline. Freehold. And a policy window that's just opened.

In July 2024 the Government scrapped the planning tests that had effectively blocked onshore wind in England since 2015. Schemes under 100MW are now decided locally, by Cumberland Council, as ordinary planning applications. Landowners with coastal sites have noticed the difference.

Across the UK, developers currently pay landowners in the region of £10,000 per MW per year, or 6–8% of gross revenue, on consented wind schemes — plus option payments of £5,000–£10,000 a year while consent is pursued. Those are national market benchmarks for schemes elsewhere. No assessment has been carried out on this land, and any development would be subject to planning, grid connection and all necessary consents.

Other notable uses for beaches and income streams:

Film, TV and stills

Location work is worth setting up properly because the cost is a morning's admin and the income needs nothing built.

Register with Screen Cumbria and the Creative England location library, both free. Then build a location sheet: drone stills and ground-level shots in different light, exact grid reference, access route and width, unit parking, nearest power and water, tide times, mobile signal, and who else's permission a production would need. Productions rule sites out on logistics, not looks, so answer the logistics before they ask.

What you actually get paid for is broader than the shoot day. Recce fees, prep and strike days, facilities or unit base charges if there's anywhere to park trucks, and standby fees where a production books a weather cover date. A single drama block can be several days at a few hundred to low four figures each.

Stills is the underrated half. Fashion, catalogue and automotive shoots move faster, need less kit, and book more often than drama. Empty coastline is exactly what car commercials and press shoots want, and your motorsport contacts are a more direct line into automotive production and agency work than a location library listing will ever be. One or two calls there is probably worth more than the registration.

Subject to vehicle access, parking and any consents required for the activity.

Beach motorsport events

The strongest activity idea for this land, and one you're unusually well placed on. Beach racing is an established UK format — Weston and Mablethorpe both run large sand races drawing thousands of spectators and entries. A promoter needs a firm beach, an access route, and a landowner willing to do a deal. You know the promoters and clubs side of this already, which is the part most landowners can't do.

Realistically you'd licence the site to an established club or promoter rather than run it yourself, taking a fee or a share of entries and gate. Requires planning permission for change of use unless it falls within permitted temporary use limits, plus event licensing, marine and environmental consents, and full public liability cover.

Horse gallops

Racehorse trainers pay for beach access for salt-water and sand work. It's an established arrangement on several English coasts. Low money per session but recurring, no infrastructure, and a licence rather than a lease. Subject to ground suitability and safe access.

Watersports and clubs

Land yachting, kitesurfing and kite buggying all need wide firm sand and are already active on this coast. A club will take a long licence, insure their own activity, and effectively manage the site for you. Sailing and jetski clubs the same. Subject to consents and any navigation rights.

Temporary and seasonal use

England's permitted development right allows temporary use of land for a limited number of days per year without a full planning application, which is the mechanism behind most pop-up coastal ventures — mobile sauna operators, outdoor cinema, cold-water swimming groups, fitness bootcamps, seasonal parking. Mobile saunas in particular have gone from nothing to a genuine coastal business in a few years. Check the current day limits and excluded uses before relying on it; some activities and some land types fall outside the right.

Campervan and motorhome stopovers

A certificated location under one of the club exemption schemes allows a small number of vans without full site licensing. Coastal pitches command a premium and the setup cost is close to nothing. Subject to the relevant exemption scheme's rules, access and facilities requirements.

Corporate and volunteering days

Companies pay for CSR days, and organised beach cleans on a privately owned frontage are an easy sell to local employers, particularly the energy and nuclear employers on that coast. Modest fees, and it generates goodwill and photos that help every other line on this list.

Tenancies

To be sold with vacant possession

Tenure

Advised Freehold - to be verified by solicitor

Auction Fees And Additional Costs

Auction fees: The sale of each lot is subject to a buyer’s premium/admin fee of 1.5% of the purchase price (subject to a minimum of £1,500 for sale prices between £1 and £50,000 or subject to a minimum of £2,400 for sale prices of £50,001 upwards) including VAT unless otherwise stated.

Additional costs: The purchase of the property may be subject to (but are not limited to), VAT (if applicable), reimbursement of the seller’s search fees, reimbursement of seller’s legal and/or sales costs, stamp duty/land transaction tax (LTT). Please check accompanying legal pack for further details.