Market town lifestyle demands high price

7:19am Saturday 19th July 2008

Comments (13)   Have your say »

By Julian Robinson »

IT is famous for its quaint streets, bustling traditional markets and real ale.

But it seems the high quality of life in Ringwood comes at a price after it was named the second most expensive market town in the country for the cost of its homes.

The average cost of a house in the pretty New Forest town has reached £380,301, according to a leading mortgage lender.

It joins a list of 19 towns across the country where house prices average more than £300,000 and was one of three in Hampshire to feature on the list. Romsey and Petersfield were also marked out for their costly properties.

Neville Chard of the Ringwood Society said he was not surprised the area was in such high demand.

He said: "People like to come and live in Ringwood because it is so convenient and that has an impact on house prices.

"It is the gateway to both the east and west and as such is a bit of a hub. You can live here and also travel to work in London, Southampton or Salisbury.

"Ringwood also has a reputation of having good schools. It is quite near the water and part of the area is in New Forest National Park."

The prices were revealed by mortgage lender Halifax as part of research that showed home buyers were prepared to pay more for properties in market towns.

Economists say home-buyers are being enticed by the offer of a high quality of life, architecture, history, setting and community spirit.

Ringwood was beaten in to second place by Beaconsfield, Bucking-hamshire where prices were found to be more than £700,000.

Meanwhile Romsey came in 13th in the list with prices averaging out at £324,943. Petersfield in East Hampshire made the top ten with homes going at an average of £332,537.