Big wait pays off for seaside flat in million

Three nights sleeping on the Bognor Regis seafront has paid off for David Dear.

The keen buyer spent 81 hours queuing for the most expensive flat along the promenade. He was rewarded for his persistence at 11am last Fridaywhen he signed to buy the upper floor luxury apartment in the prestigious Compass Point development.

Mr Dear is spending just under half a million pounds to buy what is the largest flat, penthouse excepted, in the 24 two-bedroom development on the corner of The Esplanade and Gloucester Road. Bognor developer Hamlet Homes is building the upmarket scheme after acquiring a reputation for quality. The flat, which will not be ready until December, boasts a beautiful sea view, a extensive terrace and a study as well as the standard two bedrooms, living room and kitchen.

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Mr Dear explained as he waited: 'Only two flats in the development have nice large terraces and the one I want is the only one of those with a study. It has a terrific uninterrupted sea view.'

The 63-year-old Middleton resident was so keen to own the flat that he flew back from a holiday on the Costa Blanca with his wife, Maureen, to maintain his vigil on the seafront.

He said: 'I was told there had been 17 good inquiries for the flat we wanted and it was being made available at 11am on May 4 on a first come, first serve basis. Because the quality of these flats is so good, there is no scrimping and saving here, I didn't want to miss out.'

He arrived from Spain to take up his place on the pavement outside the flats at 2am on Tuesday last week. An orange tent complete with a lounger and a chair became his home during the day time. Nights were spent in the company of some DVDs in his 4X4 parked outside the flats.

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He was allowed two comfort breaks each day '“ from 8am to 9am and between 5-7pm '“ to have a wash and a change of clothes.

The rest of the time he was happy basking in the unseasonably strong sunshine, reading a book and being an object of curiousity to passers-by.

Having finally secured his flat, Mr Dear returned to Spain to rejoin his wife for the rest of their holiday.

The couple will probably rent out their new flat for a couple of years until they decide to sell the three-bedroom cottage where they have lived for many years.

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Mr Dear said he had never considered moving away from the Bognor area, where he ran a sign company until his retirement eight years ago.

'This flat is absolutely ideal for us,' he added. 'I have always lived and worked around Bognor and I've never thought of moving away.'

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