Seaside property: welcome back to Bognor For millions of Britons, the choice was obvious. As a consequence Bognor, like so many once-great resorts, is a sad shell of its old self. Paint flakes from the facades of unloved hotels. Restaurants and shops are closed or on the cusp of closing. Even the word, Bognor, sounds more like a town in Middle Earth than a glitzy seaside resort. The suffix "Regis," given by George V after he convalesced there (though he allegedly exclaimed "B----- Bognor!") is more ironic than alluring. Property prices enjoyed growth through the boom of the late Nineties and early Noughties, but were hit hard by the recession. They fell 10 per cent in 2009, and nearly six per cent in 2012. So far this year they are flat. Bognor Regis, after all, has a pedigree like few other towns. In the second half of the 18th century, British upper classes began to visit the south coast in large numbers, after Dr Richard Russell wrote an influential dissertation advocating the health benefits of bathing in seawater. To make the most of this trend, the architect Sir Richard Hotham introduced a scheme to make Bognor a smart resort town, with gorgeous new buildings in the hope of attracting royalty. George III never visited, but Bognor remained popular with well-heeled travellers for the next century. Queen Victoria referred to it as "dear little Bognor." At the start of the 20th century the day-trippers started to arrive, and then Butlin's. The town's cachet began to slip. Though its reputation has had its ups and downs, Bognor's fundamentals are as sound as ever. With 1,900 hours of sunshine a year on average it is one of the sunniest spots on mainland Britain, less than two hours from London. Air fares are rising quickly, making the Mediterranean less appealing. Don't forget the environmental aspect, either. One long-haul flight is equal to running a car for a year. All of which helps to explain why Raine Spencer isn't the only investor taking an interest. St Mowden, the developer, has a large-scale proposal for the town in the final stages of consultation. Brighton, down the coast, has long been a haven for trendy refugees from the capital. As a result, prices in its more salubrious parts are reaching Londonesque levels. According to Home, an average detached house is £397,168, while a semi is £343,799. House-hunters are looking down the coast instead. In Bognor, a detached house is £301,208 on average, and a semi is £196,494. "People are cautious, but there are nice properties to be had, and opportunities for restoration," says Serena Strange, of Strutt & Parker Chichester. The next generation are coming - they remember having holidays on the coast, and that nostalgia is a powerful factor. Also the coastline is still lovely, and it's a very safe place, particularly for children. This corner of West Sussex is not the only dilapidated holiday resort with its eye on a brighter future. Nearby Littlehampton is also enjoying a renaissance, while farther down the coast, investors are looking at Bournemouth as well as ever-golden Sandbanks. As long as London continues to thrive, and airfares go up from the heyday of low-cost travel, there will be demand for holiday destinations in the South East. Bognor has the climate, the history and the location to make it a success and house-hunters are starting to realise it. Before long, "B----- Bognor" could be the expression from investors who've missed out, rather than sickly monarchs. Clarkes Estates (01243 861344); Strutt & Parker (01243 832600); Chesterton Humberts (01243 531010)