The Ribble Valley has been named the happiest place to live in the UK following research from the Office for National Statistics. When asked to rank how happy they felt, Ribble Valley residents returned the highest score across the country, giving an average score of 8.30. This compares with an average of 7.56 for the country at large.
There are many reasons for people living in the Ribble Valley being able to live happy lives – from the area’s stunning countryside to its strong community spirit and good nearby schools. The old market town of Clitheroe provides residents with a thriving business community, and the area has a good choice of housing for different budgets.
The survey also found that earnings for the area’s residents are above average, and due to the Valley’s location and good transport links, its residents can enjoy access to an outdoor lifestyle whilst never being too far away from the action.
Interestingly, from a property perspective, the Ribble Valley is noted as having a higher than average owner occupation rate, with around 25% of those living in the area owning their own home – much higher than both the national average (around 18%) and the rates in nearby towns including Blackburn, Burnley and Preston.
Having undertaken a wide range of work across the Ribble Valley over the years, the team at Lea Hough have a great deal of knowledge about the area’s property. From first time buyer homes right through to substantial detached houses with land, the Ribble Valley really does have something for everyone. Clitheroe provides a wide range of everyday amenities and dining and leisure establishments, whilst the likes of Longridge and Whalley also remain extremely popular.
This isn’t the first time in recent years that the RIbble Valley has been highlighted as one of the UK’s best places to live – it was ranked in the Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live 2018 guide. Conversely, nearby South Ribble residents ranked their happiness at 7.02 – the second lowest rating in the UK-wide poll.
Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors regularly undertake RICS Homebuyer Reports, Building Survey Reports and Valuations on residential property across Lancashire, including both the Ribble Valley and South Ribble. Our team also provide a wide range of commercial building surveying services on all types of commercial property in the area.
