Before you consider purchasing a property or renting a house, deciding where to live could be one of the most important decisions you make.
Get it wrong and you will either be unhappy with where you live, or face the costs associated with moving home again.
Thankfully, the annual Halifax Quality of Life survey can give some guidance in making this important decision.
The study considers 26 different factors that homebuyers may consider when choosing a place to live. It looks at local authority areas across England, Scotland and Wales.
According to the most recent survey this year, East Hertfordshire has been named the UK’s best place to live.
The survey found that the most essential factors people consider when choosing a property are affordability, safety, and access to parks and green spaces.
East Hertfordshire (known for its many popular market towns) in the East of England achieves its title thanks to strong exam results, high life expectancy, excellent health and happiness scores, and high average earnings.
Residents say they feel fit and well with nearly all of those surveyed who live there reporting good or fairly good health.
According to the latest ONS figures, adults living in the Ribble Valley, near Preston, are the happiest and most content in the UK. Must be the natural beauty, walking and cycling routes!
The Fylde Coast also has the highest life satisfaction of any local authority across England, Scotland and Wales with a socre of 8.5 out of 10.
While the South East and the East of England both feature four times within the top 10, thanks to Selby and Hambleton, the North of England also makes the line-up, in sixth and seventh place.
The highest-ranking region is the South East of England with 18 local authority areas securing spots in the top 50 best places to live, including Wokingham (10th), Winchester (34th) and the New Forest (42nd).
In second place, the East of England boasts another nine entries in the top 50, such as St Edmundsbury (9th), Rochford (33rd) and Central Bedfordshire (37th).
In third place overall is the East Midlands, featuring seven times, including South Derbyshire (12th), Rutland (31st) and Charnwood (38th).
Selby (6th), Hambleton (7th), Ryedale (11th) and York (48th) – all in Yorkshire and Humberside – are the only places in the North of England to make the top 50. Sadly the North West didn’t make the top 50.
No London local authorities appear in the top 50, and the Scottish Orkney Islands (18th) are the only locality north of the border to feature.
Just two London areas make the top 100; Richmond upon Thames (64th) and Kensington and Chelsea (79th). Wales’ highest placing was the Vale of Glamorgan at 126th.
I am proud to call the Ribble Valley my home. We boast fantastic schools, great restaurants, pubs and amazing independent shops that people travel for miles to visit. With the Ribble Valley booming and more shops, bars and resteraunts opening we must brace ourselves for more tourists.
Nigel Evans MP
