An excellent outcome for all concerned. Apart from all those who lose out, of course.

From The MoveChannel.Com

The creation at the end of next month of what is predicted to become the UK's most visited National Park is set to provide a significant boost to property prices, it is claimed... Property prices within the South Downs National Park could increase upwards by 10% as estate agents use national park status to improve the desirability of the area, a conference heard.

It could also mean more second home owners in the area and fewer local people being able to afford property, the conference organised by chartered surveyors Smiths Gore and solicitors Adams & Remers, was also told...

"There will be increased opportunities for landowners, both large and small, from the increase in tourism into the area and we expect to see a significant uplift in the value of cottage rentals," said Rupert Clark, a partner at Smiths Gore and head of Rural Estate Management, "We would also expect to see house prices increase upwards of 10% as estate agents inevitably make a play on National Park status,' he added.

He said there will also be challenges ahead in the provision of affordable housing and increasing weekend holiday home ownership will have an impact on housing supply. "The South Downs is already a relatively expensive part of the country to purchase property, particularly for agricultural and key workers. The added challenges and bureaucracy that will be involved in achieving planning permissions is only likely to make this position worse," explained Clark...

"It is usual that a National Park Authority becomes the planning authority for all planning applications within the Park boundary. It was suggested that this may not be the case with the South Downs National Park. If so, this will be good news for home owners and businesses within the Park," said Andrew Pawlik, a partner at Adams & Remers based in Lewes, a town that falls within the Park boundary, "Local authorities that border the South Downs National Park may also take some comfort from this as well, as there is always the danger that they become a dumping ground for development that would not typically be allowed within National Park boundaries," he added.