Buckinghamshire Council’s leader said it was ‘no surprise’ to see the county be named as one of the best places to live in the country.

Martin Tett, who has been the head of the operation since 2011, reacted to the news after the Thames Valley area was ranked third on the list, second to only the West Midlands and Aberdeenshire in Scotland.  

The findings are anchored on ratings by over 6,000 verified homeowners on HomeViews, collated from July 2022 to June 2023, with the counties being judged on various aspects, including their locality. 

READ MORE: Buckinghamshire named among the best places to live in the UK

Speaking on the result, he told the Free Press: “Of course, it’s no surprise to see Buckinghamshire named as such a desirable place to live.

“We know this area has a huge amount to offer families and it’s a place people tend to stay long-term.

"We’re close to London yet Buckinghamshire offers beautiful countryside, traditional towns and a good quality of life.

“There are good jobs on offer, green space, excellent community facilities and we have a thriving local business network.

“We aren’t complacent and making sure all our residents have the best possible access to all the opportunities Buckinghamshire offers is a key priority for us through our Opportunity Bucks programme.

READ MORE: Aylesbury and MK ranked as some of the worst places to live in England

“We’ve also worked hard to set out a vision for future ambitions through our newly adopted ‘Regenerating Bucks’ framework.

“We know Buckinghamshire is a great place to live, work and raise a family and we want to keep growing and developing to make this the best possible place in the future too.”