County Durham is England and Wales’ most affordable place to live for greenest houses

• County Durham offers best ratio of low house prices and high Energy Performance Certificate scores
• Burnley and Blackburn with Darwen are also in top three

New analysis has revealed that County Durham’s combination of housing with highly rated Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and some of England’s lowest property prices makes it the best area for affordable environmentally friendly living.

The study by Boiler Central examined the average EPC score for new and existing houses and flats for more than 200 areas across England and Wales, and compared it to the average house price in the area.

County Durham topped the rankings thanks to an average EPC score of 75.75 – the 13^th highest in the study – and the fifth lowest average house price, which stood at £115,825.49 in March 2021, according to the most recent ONS data. As it result it offers the best combination of low house prices and high energy performance.

Burnley is second in the index thanks to the lowest average house price in England and Wales, at £93,572.42, and the 20^th best EPC score of 74.75.

Blackburn with Darwen places third in the list with an average EPC score of 76, and an average house price of £125,527.10 – the 11^th lowest in the country.

At the other end of the scale Kensington and Chelsea combines the highest average house price in the UK £1,332,133.63 with one of the lower EPC ratings of 72.375.

Haringey is second bottom, with the ninth-highest average house price, standing at £607,029.05 and an average EPC rating of 73.5.

Third bottom is another London borough, Camden, where the fifth highest average house price of £796,441.90, combines with an average EPC score of 74.

The best average EPC rating belongs to Cambridge, with 78.25, however it sits in the middle of the rankings in 188^th because of an average house price most recently measured at £461,935.21, more than £200,000 above the UK average of £256,405.17.

Ceredigion has the lowest average EPC score in the study, 68, while its average house price is £212,986.54. As a result the Welsh county places 99^th in the overall rankings.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Boiler Central said: “As environmental concerns continue to dominate the headlines, it’s intriguing to see how different parts of the England and Wales compare in their energy performance ratings. The figures show that it is possible to combine good energy performance with affordability.”

Environmental Affordability Index, by Boiler Central – top 10

Environmental Affordability Index, by Boiler Central – bottom 10