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Deserted Dungeness beach offered for sale at £1.5m | Deserted Dungeness beach offered for sale at £1.5m |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A deserted shingle beach next to a nuclear power station has been put up for sale at £1.5m. | A deserted shingle beach next to a nuclear power station has been put up for sale at £1.5m. |
The 500-acre Dungeness Estate, in Kent, has been described as "Britain's only desert" by the Met Office. | The 500-acre Dungeness Estate, in Kent, has been described as "Britain's only desert" by the Met Office. |
The headland, which juts out into the English Channel, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has 29 homes built from railway carriages on it. | The headland, which juts out into the English Channel, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has 29 homes built from railway carriages on it. |
Maurice Ede, one of the owning trustees, said he had enjoyed running it but it was time to test the market. | |
'It's profitable' | |
The Dungeness Estate, which includes the cottage where film director Derek Jarman lived, has been part of a family trust since 1964. | |
Mr Ede said: "The trustees are getting older and the estate is in very good shape, it is profitable, so it's quite a good time to test the market. | |
"I have enjoyed running it, it has been great fun but I am not sure who would buy it." | |
Mark McAndrew, from estate agents Strutt & Parker, said the sale was incredibly unusual. | |
He said: "I've been doing my job for 28 years and I can absolutely hand on heart tell you I've never sold anything like this. | He said: "I've been doing my job for 28 years and I can absolutely hand on heart tell you I've never sold anything like this. |
"The Met Office calls it Britain's only desert." | "The Met Office calls it Britain's only desert." |
'Shingle movers' | |
Mr McAndrew said the buyer could either be someone interested in conservation or looking at the beach as an investment. | Mr McAndrew said the buyer could either be someone interested in conservation or looking at the beach as an investment. |
He said the main income comes from EDF, which runs the power station, and use the shingle from the beach to protect it. | He said the main income comes from EDF, which runs the power station, and use the shingle from the beach to protect it. |
"They pay the best part of £100,000 per annum to move the shingle back to where it came from," he said. | "They pay the best part of £100,000 per annum to move the shingle back to where it came from," he said. |
"Obviously the power station needs protecting and will need protection for many years to come." | "Obviously the power station needs protecting and will need protection for many years to come." |
The Dungeness B power station, began generating electricity in 1983 and was scheduled for decommissioning 2018. | The Dungeness B power station, began generating electricity in 1983 and was scheduled for decommissioning 2018. |
However, it will remain open until 2028 following £150m of extra investment. | However, it will remain open until 2028 following £150m of extra investment. |
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