Buying a home in a national park comes at a 25% price premium, with the New Forest the most expensive of the 13 parks in England and Wales, according to Britain’s biggest building society.
Nationwide said properties in a national park enjoy a valuation almost £67,000 more than a similar property elsewhere, based on the average UK house price of £266,640.
The building society found the premium attached to national park living was not only due to the great outdoors factor but also to restrictions on new housing developments within the borders of parks.
“National parks continue to be highly desirable areas to live in, thanks to the beautiful countryside,” said Andrew Harvey, a senior economist at Nationwide. “Those living in such areas are ideally placed to make the most of the great outdoors and take advantage of a range of activities and amenities. Development is also controlled with limited new housing construction, which also helps to explain why house prices tend to be relatively high.”
The research found the New Forest in southern England was the most expensive national park to live in, with an average house price of £576,000. It has a population of 34,400.
Popular villages within the 220 sq mile (570 sq km) park include Ashurst, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.
The cheapest of the UK’s national parks is Snowdonia in Wales, where a typical property costs £173,000. Snowdonia has a population of 24,200 living in its almost 2,200 sq kms
The national park with the highest number of people in residence is the South Downs, at 115,100, owing to desirable Hampshire and Sussex towns including Petersfield, Liss, Midhurst and Petworth within its borders.
Nationwide also found there was a “fringe benefit” for properties within3 miles of a national park, with values about 7% more expensive than homes further away.
The research also found that homes in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) – which include picturesque countryside locations such as the Cotswolds, Chilterns and Surrey Hills – also command a price premium.
Houses in these areas are on average 15% more expensive than an otherwise identical property elsewhere.
“These areas include some highly desirable locations and the premium is likely to reflect the continued attractiveness of rural areas and the associated lifestyle,” said Harvey. “While not as well known as national parks, these are desirable places to live and as such tend to see relatively high house prices.”
The most expensive AONB in which to buy a house is Surrey Hills, where the average price is £610,000. The cheapest is Dorset at £323,000.
Average cost of a house in selected national parks
New Forest – £576,000
South Downs – £400,000
Peak District – £375,000
Yorkshire Dales – £353,000
Lake District – £333,000
Dartmoor – £310,000
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) – £274,000
Eryri (Snowdonia) – £173,000
Source: Nationwide, Office for National Statistics, National Parks UK
