‘Greenest areas to rent’ identified in latest survey

If agents want to emphasise the green credentials of their local area, then a new league table may be of help.

An index drawn up by The Body Shop uses five key factors - the amount of urban green space per person, air quality, noise pollution, trees and walking trails.

Combining all five, the top 10 cities are Plymouth, Torbay, Exeter, Bournemouth, York, Thanet, Medway, Swansea, Aberdeen and Lincoln.

According to the index, Devon is the best location for escaping into nature, with 54 parks and forests, and 30 walking trails in the county. 

With its vast mountainous landscapes and famous lochs, it’s no surprise that Scotland is home to the cities with the cleanest air. Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow had the best air quality on average throughout 2020. On the other hand, the air quality in Milton Keynes, Hastings and Oxford was the poorest around Great Britain. 

The cities that offer the largest amount of green space per person are Swansea, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, each offering over 100 square metres of green space for every city-goer. 

Unsurprisingly, the super populated cities of London and Manchester have the lowest amount of green space per city resident, followed by Wolverhampton and Coventry.

Kingston Upon Hull, Milton Keynes and Cardiff are considered the noisiest cities but at the other end of the scale, Glasgow, Slough, Edinburgh, London and Aberdeen are the noisiest cities.

After an extensive analysis of over 2,500 forests and parks, The Body Shop’s research revealed that Medway and Thanet, both located in Kent, and Southampton and Portsmouth, in the county of Hampshire, have the highest number of forests and parks just a short journey away.

Lastly, Exeter, Torbay, Bournemouth, Plymouth and York offer the most walking trails to enjoy as part of a self-love routine. The South West Coast Path is among the top 5* rated walking trails to visit in the south west of England, as well as Durdle Door and the White Nothe Circular Walk.