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Owning a home with stunning views of a national park is a dream for many, and new research has revealed how much buyers will have to pay for the privilege.
Home buyers are paying an average of £422,225 extra to live within the boundaries of a national park, new data from Savills reveals.
Typically, that means they pay 51 percent more than households in the rest of their county.
Within a National Landscape, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, house hunters are willing to pay a 48 per cent premium.
Natural beauty: Houses in Bosham, Chichester, will cost more than double the county average
National Landscape areas command a higher price, averaging £581,121, which Savills says reflects where these areas are located in the country.
In National Scenic Areas, Scotland’s equivalent of National Landscapes, buyers are willing to pay an average of £285,175, a 46 per cent premium on the average price in its wider areas of £195,529.
Frances McDonald, research director at Savills, said: “In recent years, as buyers have re-evaluated their priorities, we have seen an increase in interest in living amongst greenery or with close access to green space.”
National parks, national landscapes and national scenic areas, which cover about 22 percent of the country, have designated legal protection because of their natural beauty.
The Chilterns, Cotswolds and Dorset are believed to be under consideration for designation as a new National Park.
Where do buyers pay the most for natural beauty?
Homes located in Chichester Harbor top the list for highest premiums, with homes in the National Landscape area commanding a spectacular 122.1 per cent premium to the average second-hand sale price of just £442,957 in West Sussex .
A harborside house will cost you an average of £983,389.
“Striding between Hampshire and West Sussex, and home to unspoiled villages such as Itchenor, which enjoys both countryside and coastal views, average sales prices are now 15.6 per cent higher than a year ago for living at the Conservancy,” McDonald said.
Houses in the Gower region of Wales and Loch Lomond in Scotland are selling for a premium of 121.8 per cent and 114.4 per cent respectively.
| Area | Classification | Average second-hand sales price, 12 months to October 23 | Median second-hand sales price in county(s), 12 months to October 23 | Premium above county average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chichester Harbor | National Landscape | 983,389 | 442,857 | 122.10% |
| gower | National Landscape | 441,585 | 199,110 | 121.80% |
| Loch Lomond | National Scenic Area | 404,637 | 188,744 | 114.40% |
| new forest | National Park | 800,053 | 390,091 | 105.10% |
| Lake District | National Park | 455,711 | 223,677 | 103.70% |
| mendip hills | National Landscape | 735,004 | 373,622 | 96.70% |
| Northern Arran | National Scenic Area | 354,967 | 181,481 | 95.60% |
| Cannock Chase | National Landscape | 458,644 | 238,164 | 92.60% |
| Lynn Lorn | National Scenic Area | 348,800 | 181,481 | 92.20% |
| Howardian Hills | National Landscape | 545,761 | 288,311 | 89.30% |
| Savills | ||||
However, the average selling price for these is much lower compared to Chichester Harbour, at just £441,585 for Gower and £404,637 for Loch Lomond.
Properties in the New Forest National Park will also cost buyers more than double the cost of an average home in the area, £800,053, compared to £390,091 on average.
Similarly, homes in the Lake District sell for £455,711, compared to a county average of £223,677, Savills said.
Houses in the Mendip Hills, Cannock Chase and Howardian Hills National Landscape Areas, along with the Lynn of Lorn and North Arran National Landscape Areas in Scotland, are also selling for almost double the average price.
“Recent Government commitments to ensure National Landscapes become leading examples of how diverse and thriving communities can work with and for nature mean we are likely to continue to see strong buyer interest and overpricing,” McDonald said. .
We chose three homes with different budgets and surrounded by nature, all of them in the Savills market.
1. Howardian Hills: seven-bedroom mansion, £7m
Country Estate – This property features 211 acres of arable land along with existing buildings.
This seven-bedroom stately home in the Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire, is on the market for £7,000,000.
The property features a two-bedroom detached cottage, an indoor pool and a whopping 200 acres of arable land.
The south facing property is also just seventeen miles north of York and the main East Coast railway line.
2. South Downs: three-bedroom cottage, £695,000
Quiet location: This property is surrounded by farmland, but has good connections.
This three-bedroom detached cottage in West Sussex could be yours for £695,000.
The house, which has a south-facing garden, is located close to train stations and local shops and sits on a quarter of an acre of land.
The period property also has a three-car driveway and is close to the south coast.
3. South Downs: four-bedroom barn, £750,000
Previous uses: This period property is situated in the grounds of a former school.
This former brick-built barn, which once stood in the grounds of a school, is on the market for £750,000.
The property has four bedrooms, including one located in a renovated dovecote, and has a parking space for four cars.
Located near the village of Wisborough Green, the surrounding area is also home to the 400-acre woodland, Mens Nature Reserve.
