The price you pay to live in the UK’s National Parks
nyone who likes the idea of buying a home in one of the UK’s 15 national parks could be on to a good thing, but should be prepared to dig deep in their pockets, as price tags can prove very costly.
Recent research shows that, on average, it will set you back £267,817 to buy in a national park, which is 16 per cent more than the current UK house price.
The New Forest is home to the highest national park house price (£425,738) coming in at a huge 84 per cent higher than the UK average asking price.
The South Downs ranks second with an average price of £423,982; some 83 per cent higher than the UK average.
No surprise then, that these two national parks are also home to the majority of the most expensive postcodes.
The top 29 postcodes are all in these areas, with SA42 in Pembrokeshire the only other postcode listed within the top 30 most expensive areas.
The Yorkshire Dales has the third most expensive average house price in National Parks at £307,270, and the Lake District comes fourth at £268,893.
Dartmoor, The Broads, Exmoor and the Peak District all follow the trend quite closely.
There are pockets of affordability to be found, however.
On average, the house price gap between the most affordable postcodes and the least affordable postcodes across all parks is 139 per cent.
Two North York Moors postcodes are both in the top ten most affordable postcodes , with £118,579 and £136,108 as the average asking prices.
The Brecon Beacons is home to the largest gap between the most affordable and the least affordable postcodes.
There is a 263 per cent difference between the CF44 postcode (£109,687) in this national park, and the NP8 postcode (£398,125).
While the New Forest ranks as the least affordable
Aarea overall, its PO1 postcode is also home to an average property price of just £207,731.
So not only is it cheaper than the UK average, but it’s 254 per cent more affordable than the New Forest’s SO42 postcode (£735,158).
For overall affordability, Snowdonia is home to the lowest average national park house price (£188,001), along with Loch Lomond in Scotland, (£190,540), and the Brecon Beacons.
Snowdonia’s LL41 postcode is also the cheapest of all national park postcode property prices at £101,708.
Other lower end postcodes, G83 in Loch Lomond ,(£102,306), and CF44 in the Brecon Beacons, (£109,687,) also rank amongst the most affordable pockets.
Marc von Grundherr, director of Benham and Reeves, which conducted the research, said: “Staycations
look to be on the menu for most this summer, but if you’re planning on making the move a permanent one then living in or around one of our beautiful national parks could be a wise move.
“While these areas understandably come with a price premium, that doesn’t mean you have to pay above the odds for the privilege of calling them home.
“Like all areas of the UK market, prices can vary from one pocket to the next and there are some considerable savings on offer even in the same national parks.”
He continued: “Take the New Forest for example.
“It may be the most expensive on the whole and the least affordable areas will set you back over £700,000.
“However, opting for a different part of the park can save you over £500,000 while still enjoying the benefits of a national park.”