Fresh wave of ‘luxury’ beach chalets for Whitby

Whitby’s popularity Britain’s top tourist destinations has led to a big demand for beach huts.

Now Scarborough Borough Council is to install 10 “luxury” chalets at West Cliff.

The council is spending £94,000 on the huts, which will be one-and-a-half times bigger than the current ones and will have water and electricity.

Painted in cheerful primary colours, they will be on a raised area above the beach management centre looking straight out onto Whitby Bay.

Council officials believe the latest huts – although dearer to rent –will be snapped up on completion next spring as there are already 36 people on their waiting list.

Coun David Chance said: “People want comfort; aspirations are changing; people want value for money, they want a little bit of quality.

“These are what I’d call luxury chalets. They are much bigger than the existing chalets and will have cooking facilities, power and water.”

He added: “There’s nothing wrong with the existing chalets – maybe they are a little tired but they are much loved.

“They have been family institutions for generations – a lot of the same families that were there when I first started working down there 50 years ago on my first summer job.

“They are very popular and there’s a vociferous lobby down there if you try and change anything.”

A report to be considered by the council’s cabinet said there was already “significant interest” from would-be chalet holders.

“Officers are of the opinion that if accompanied by a formal marketing campaign the new chalet provision will be fully subscribed immediately upon completion,” it said.