18/03/2008 02:48:00
West Country counties like Devon and Somerset might be best known as two of the UK's favourite holiday destinations, but a recent study has also placed them as among the UK's most popular places to live.
The research, conducted by monitoring address changes through the Royal Mail, saw 10, 847 householders move to Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire in the past year.
While the West Country is the most popular region for people relocating in Britain, Kent topped the list as the number one county to move to in 2007, with 5068 net moves.
West Sussex and Hampshire placed second and third on the list, while Devon and Dorset rounded out the top five.
According to the Telegraph, Councillor Humphrey Temperley, a member of Devon County Council stated:
"We are unsurprised by these findings as the West Country holds a unique charm that many find hard to ignore.
This combined with Devon's recent investments in schools and hospitals, the burgeoning economic climate and the picturesque countryside make for quality of life few other counties can compete with."
The Royal Mail study also found that the Hebrides and the Western Isles in Scotland are a popular choice for people relocating in the UK, with 289 new households established in the region.
The research was based on 600, 000 requests made over 12 months to Royal Mail for post to be redirected. The survey also found that, although areas in Greater London and Surrey had more people moving in than higher ranked areas in the table, this was offset by the even higher number of households moving out.