The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
An exclusive street looking over a harbour on the UK's south coast has been revealed as the most expensive piece of coastal real estate in the world.
A row of 13 luxury mansions in Sandbanks, Dorset, are worth a staggering Sh12.4 billion (£93million).
The 850ft stretch in the peninsula in Poole Harbour looks out on to the busiest part of the world's second biggest natural harbour.
There is also almost total privacy from the road out front while back gardens run down to the water's edge.
But the plots are relatively narrow, between 40ft and 60ft wide, making it the most expensive piece of coastline in the world in terms of price per square foot.
To highlight the buoyant state of the 'super-prime level' of the Sandbanks market, two ultra-modern properties with indoor swimming pools were recently snapped up in quick time for a combined Sh2 billion (£15.6m).
One of those that went for just over £8m was a huge state-of-the-art mansion while the other sold for Sh934 million (£7.5m) even before the sales brochure had come out.
Last week another luxury house on a plot of land that Beatles star John Lennon bought for his beloved Aunt Mimi, went up for sale for Sh987 million (£7.2m).
Other properties to have changed hands in recent times include a mock-Tudor mansion that was sold by soccer boss Harry Redknapp to the boss of Topps Tiles.
It sold for Sh920 million (£6.9m) in 2015 but is now said to be valued at Sh1.3 billion (£10m) after undergoing renovation.
And a 'his and her' mansion that has been split in to two homes and lived in by a brother and sister are said to be worth Sh600 million (£4.5m)each.
Sandbanks, also known as Britain's version of Miami Beach, remains hugely popular with London-centric buyers.
Local property experts believe the uncertainty over the impact Brexit will have on the London property market is tempting rich buyers to look elsewhere.
Adrian Dunford, of Sandbanks estate agents Tailor Made, said: "We now believe this part of Sandbanks is the most expensive stretch of coastline on the planet in terms of price-per-square foot.
"The multi-million pound mansions in Miami and Monte Carlo will be on much bigger plots of land than you get on Sandbanks.
"The thing about Sandbanks is that it is a peninsula and so we are hemmed in. You can't increase the number of properties and so supply and demand dictate the prices.
"That row of properties is located in the most enviable part of Sandbanks. The houses have direct water access and also overlook the busiest part of the harbour.
"The south westerly aspect allows for sensational views to Old Harry Rocks, Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and the Purbeck Hills.
"Sometimes with the bigger, headline-priced properties you need two summers to sell them.
"So to have two at the very top end of the market go as quickly as they have says an awful lot about the state of the local market.
"The properties were bought by London-based buyers and that maybe a reflection of what is happening with the Brexit."
And Keith Fensom, from Savills, said: "Generally the market is difficult because of the uncertainty of Brexit, but that doesn't seem to affect buyers at the super-prime level.
"Sometimes these houses might come on the market once in a generation and buyers know if they don't seize their chance they could be waiting years.
"Some are passed through family trusts and will never come on the market because there are too many beneficiaries to get to agree to sell.
"I think the appeal of that section of Sandbanks is that it's very private.
"Houses on the beach don't have quite so much privacy because the beach is open to the public, but on the harbour side you don't have anybody in front of you and you can see all the activity in the harbour and you don't get the queue for the ferry outside your house.
"There is also a huge difference in value on the road. The opposite side is apartments and townhouses without the view.
"There aren't many roads in the country you can have houses worth Sh1 billion (£8m) on one side of the road and just Sh106 million (£800,000) on the other.
"I don't think there is anywhere else in the country that compares, I would think it's the most expensive coastal road in the country by a long way.
"The key is, unlike Devon and Cornwall, its close enough to London for people to come for a long weekend. In two hours they can have a complete change in lifestyle, that's the attraction."
