National Treasure

There are 15 National Parks in the UK, which cover approximately 5.7 million acres. The primary aim of our National Park authorities in England is to enhance and conserve the natural beauty, cultural heritage and wildlife of these areas; and promote opportunities for the enjoyment and understanding of the special qualities of National Parks by the public.

Properties within or on the edge of National Parks can be expected to attract a premium; such a premium can be attributed to the relatively limited supply of properties and the fact that they are typically surrounded by beautiful countryside and rich in cultural heritage.

The rural setting appeals to many people despite the inherent remoteness of many of these properties. Buying a property in a National Park provides easy access to the open spaces of the British countryside, which offers wonderful opportunities for leisure activities, from walking, birdwatching, horse riding, water sports or even caving and bouldering. Time spent in nature can contribute to improved health and wellbeing and the UK’s National Parks now attract 100 million visitors a year.

A significant portion of National Park land is in agricultural use and it is generations of farmers and land managers who have been responsible for maintaining the present landscapes that so many people enjoy today.

Historically, agri-environment schemes have been a particularly important tool for conservation in our National Parks. It has been estimated that the Basic Payment Scheme and agri-environment agreement payments equate to a significant proportion of farm business income for upland and lowland farms within National Parks.

In England, now that we are well and truly in the midst of DEFRA’s Agricultural Transition Plan many farmers are having to assess their farming enterprises, and look into diversification and alternative funding sources.

National Park authorities facilitate grant funded improvements through administering schemes such as the Historic Buildings Restoration Grant, and the more recent Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme. By taking advantage of these schemes, farmers are able to continue preserving the existing landscape and providing new opportunities for the benefit of the wider public.

Each National Park authority sets its own rules with regard to who is permitted to buy within the area and this is often restricted to local residents in an effort to keep rural housing affordable for local people and to prevent properties from being used as second homes or holiday homes.

In order to control development within the National Parks, each authority provides a planning service that takes the national picture into consideration whilst delivering planning that also enables the rural communities to thrive. However, this can prevent the use of permitted development rights which can include extending residential properties. This would need to be addressed by a full planning application which will increase costs and prolong the process of obtaining permission.

The vast landscapes of the National Parks generate a huge amount of interest in terms of tourism which provides numerous opportunities to generate a revenue stream, however it does result in an influx of visitors during the summer months which can put pressure on local services, facilities and roads. This is something to consider if you are buying a property within the bounds of a National Park. n Contact us for more information about rural business management, planning matters, or if you are looking to buy a property in a national park.

Sam Gibson 07769 687 978

sam.gibson@galbraithgroup.com