NEW analysis by the Office for National Statistics has confirmed house prices within national parks, such as the South Downs, are higher than prices outside the parks.

The research came in response to a parliamentary question raised by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds.

It is thought to be the first official data confirming the difference in property prices, and affordability ratios, inside and outside national parks.

It is particularly relevant for local authorities that cross a national park boundary, such as in East Hampshire.

Mr Hinds asked for the data to help make the case that housing needs assessments should be set separately for areas inside and outside a park boundary, if a local authority area covers both – because housing affordability can be significantly different.

The new data shows that for East Hampshire in 2019, the median house price outside South Downs National Park was £364,998, compared to £429,950 inside – a difference of £64,953.

It also shows that in East Hampshire, on average, houses cost 13 times median earnings outside the South Downs, but 18 times median earnings inside the park boundaries.

Mr Hinds said: “The high cost of homes in East Hampshire is a real problem for young people who want to be able to get on the housing ladder.

“These new figures confirm the affordability gap is even greater inside the national park – indeed, that’s a pattern that’s repeated in most other national parks around the country.

“I’ve been making the case to ministers that the housing needs of communities inside national parks need to be considered specifically, and this new data adds important evidence to that case.”

Coincidentally, a Bordon housebuilder also announced a record half-year of house sales this week, despite the ongoing Covid crisis.

Barratt Developments, which is building hundreds of new homes in Bordon at New Quarter and Heritage Quarter, says it recorded 9,077 house completions in the six-month period to December 31, 2020.

This is up 9.2 per cent from the previous year.

The developer believes these results reflect “underlying market strength and pent-up demand” following the initial lockdown.

It has also seen “great results” from the stamp duty holiday and the March 2021 end of Help to Buy for existing homeowners.

Plus the company says it has benefited from its own “tremendous offers to buyers” that could be used in addition to any government incentives, such as the NHS deposit contribution scheme and armed forces discount scheme.

Jon Green, managing director of Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ Southampton division, said: “We have achieved a fantastic half-year performance and have made a solid start to the second half.

“We remain committed to playing our part in addressing the nation’s housing shortage.”