The New Forest in Hampshire is the most expensive National Park in the UK to live in, according to Nationwide Building Society.
Its research suggests a property located within a National Park attracts a 20% premium over an otherwise identical property.
This is around £45,000 in cash terms based on the current average UK house price.
FRINGE BENEFITS
The premium is not limited entirely to properties located within the boundaries of the National Park, with evidence of a ‘fringe benefit’ for properties located close by. Properties within 5km (c.3 miles) of a National Park command a 6% premium compared with those outside of this range.
The New Forest is the most expensive National Park in which to purchase property, with an average price of £475,000. Settlements within the park include Ashurst, Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.
The South Downs, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, spans 1,624km² across Hampshire and Sussex.  It has the highest resident population of any of the National Parks at c117,900. The park takes in a number of towns situated in the western Weald, including Petersfield, Liss, Midhurst and Petworth.
The Peak District is most centrally located National Park, making it accessible from major population centres such as Derby, Sheffield and Manchester. It the nearest National Park for an estimated 16.4 million people, with 7.1 million living within an hour’s drive.
Average house prices in a selection of National Parks:
| National Park | Land Area (km²) | Popl. living in park | Average house price | Indicative premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Forest | 570 | 35,500 | £475,000 | £95,000 |
| South Downs | 1,624 | 117,900 | £368,000 | £74,000 |
| Peak District | 1,437 | 36,900 | £280,000 | £56,000 |
| Dartmoor | 953 | 34,600 | £238,000 | £48,000 |
| Lake District | 2,362 | 40,300 | £234,000 | £47,000 |
| Brecon Beacons | 1,344 | 34,000 | £222,000 | £44,000 |
| Pembrokeshire | 621 | 22,300 | £193,000 | £39,000 |
| Snowdonia | 2,176 | 25,500 | £157,000 | £31,000 |
Sources: Nationwide, ONS, National Parks UK
Andrew Harvey, senior economist at Nationwide, said: “The government has recently announced plans to create new national parks in England as part of their 25 Year Environment Plan. Each National Park is unique, but all are highly desirable areas in which to live thanks to the beautiful countryside.
“Those living in the parks can make the most of the great outdoors with a range of activities on their doorstep. Development is also controlled, with limited new housing construction, which also helps to explain why prices tend to be relatively high.
“Tourism is a key industry for the Lake District, the UK’s most visited National Park, with an estimated 16.4 million visitors a year. It is also the largest of the 13 National Parks in England and Wales. The main towns in the park include Keswick, Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere.
“National Parks cover 20% of the land area in Wales, the highest proportion of the home nations, with the largest, Snowdonia, covering 2,176km². In South Wales, the Brecon Beacons is conveniently located for those living in Newport & Cardiff, with an estimated 2.4 million people within an hour’s drive time.
“The Cairngorms is the largest National Park by land area, and is home to c17,000 people. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are more easily accessible from the central belt however, with an estimated 2.8 million within an hour’s drive.”
