THE New Forest is the second most expensive National Park in England and Wales to buy property, according to a recent survey.

Knight Frank, a residential and commercial property consultancy firm, found the average detached properties and selling for £620,000 on average.

In wider Hampshire, the average price paid for a detached property over the same time period was just over £444,000.

Topping the list was the South Downs, which showed an average of £674,000 in the 12 months to January 2017.

Oliver Knight, an associate in Knight Frank’s residential research team, said: “The high quality of life connected with living in some of the most distinctive landscapes in England and Wales is an obvious attraction for many home buyers, but this often comes with a premium. More restrictive planning regimes in place within National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty means supply can often fall short of demand and this – along with the nature of existing stock, which tend towards older, larger homes with land - has underpinned pricing.

"Wider trends we’re experiencing in the housing market are also evident, not least the north-south divide in terms of pricing, with the South Downs and the New Forest topping the pricing charts. The London ripple effect is also evident within popular commuter location such as the Surrey Hills and the Chilterns.”