New beachfront homes overlooking the Channel are commanding huge prices, including Kent’s most expensive flat which has just sold for almost £2 million.

The penthouse apartment in Court Road, Hythe, has found a well-heeled buyer - but the chance remains to snap up its equally spectacular neighbour.

Just along the coast in Folkestone, a four-bed beach house in the new Shoreline Crescent development is on sale for a cool £2.2 million.

And in nearby Sandgate, a “simply jaw-dropping” plot with permission for a stunning coastal house is being marketed for almost £2.2 million, including the cost of the build.

It underlines how the appetite for seaside properties in Kent - which grew during the first Covid lockdown as Londoners left the capital for more scenic surroundings - shows little sign of abating.

Pre-pandemic average property prices in Folkestone and Hythe in January 2020 were £264,000 and by January 2024 had risen to £307,000.

The penthouse apartments in Court Road overlook the sea - and a BP petrol station - and are claimed to be “the epitome of coastal luxury living”.

They both boast 250 sq m of living space with four beds and a huge open-plan living area with panoramic views of the English Channel.

The apartments occupy the top floors of the two separate blocks called Olivia Court which were built following the demolition of a derelict older building.

Agents Laing Bennett say the most seaward facing has just been sold, subject to contract, and there is interest in the remaining penthouse, which has a guide price of £1.75 million.

They describe the flats as “boasting unparalleled views, exquisite design and sophisticated amenities”.

Reached by a dedicated penthouse lift, each has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, wrap-around balconies and a utility room.

They are said to be specified with the very highest quality fixtures and fittings and have underfloor heating.

Each has their own garages and two additional parking spaces.

Meanwhile, in The Corniche off Hospital Hill in Sandgate, The Land Agency is marketing a self-build plot for a spectacular new-build.

A firm of leading architects have visualised how the proposed four-bed home with landscaped gardens and stunning coastal views, could look. The completed project is estimated at £2.2 million, although whoever buys the plot could opt for a cheaper build.

At the new Shoreline Crescent flats and houses in Folkestone, built by Sir Roger De Haan’s Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company, a four-bed beach house is being marketed for £2.2 million by The London Broker in Mayfair.

It is being billed as “the ultimate in luxury seaside living”, with expansive roof terraces, a private garden, breathtaking sea views, underground parking and direct beachfront access.

However, for those on a much tighter budget but seeking coastal living, a newly-refurbished flat on the seafront in Hythe will set you back just £280,000.

On the ground floor of a handsome property in Marine Parade, it boasts generous accommodation, including two en-suite bedrooms, and a courtyard garden.