Britain's largest building association says there is a 25% price premium for buying a home in a national park, making the New Forest the most expensive of 13 parks in England and Wales.
Nationwide said that based on the average UK house price of £266,640, properties within national parks are valued at around £67,000 more than other similar properties.
The Building Society has found that the premium attached to living in a national park is due not only to the great outdoors element, but also to restrictions on new housing development within park boundaries.
“National parks continue to be highly desirable places to live due to their beautiful countryside,” said Andrew Harvey, senior economist at Nationwide. “People living in such areas are ideally placed to make the most of nature and take advantage of a variety of activities and amenities. Development is also kept in check with limited new home construction. This also helps explain why home prices tend to be relatively high.
The New Forest in southern England is the most expensive national park to live in, according to the study, with an average house price of £576,000. The population is 34,400.
Popular villages within the 570 sq km (220 sq mi) park include Asherst, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.
The cheapest national park in the UK is Snowdonia in Wales, where a typical property costs £173,000. Snowdonia has a population of 24,200 people spread over approximately 2,200 square kilometers.
The national park with the highest number of residents is the South Downs, with 115,100 people, as it has desirable Hampshire and Sussex towns such as Petersfield, Lys, Midhurst and Petworth within its boundaries.
The national study also found that properties within three miles of a national park have an “additional benefit” and are worth about 7% more than homes further away.
The research also found that homes in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which include picturesque countryside such as the Cotswolds, Chilterns and Surrey Hills, also command a price premium.
Homes in these areas are on average 15% more expensive than comparable properties elsewhere.
“These areas include some highly desirable locations and the premiums are likely to reflect the continued appeal of the countryside and the lifestyle that goes with it,” Mr Harvey said. “Although not as well-known as national parks, these are desirable places to live, so housing prices tend to be relatively high.”
The most expensive area to buy a home in AONB is Surry Hills, with an average price of £610,000. The cheapest option is in Dorset at £323,000.
Average price of housing in some national parks
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New Forest – £576,000
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South Downs – £400,000
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Peak District – £375,000
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Yorkshire Dales – £353,000
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Lake District – £333,000
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Dartmoor – £310,000
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Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) – £274,000
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Eryri (Snowdonia) – £173,000
Source: Nationwide, Office for National Statistics, UK National Parks
