To ask about the pros and cons of living above a very busy large supermarket on a busy road?

[hellokittymania]

Just that really. The good thing is that I would have very easy access to a giant Waitrose!

Can anyone give me a little more insight though?

[statetrooperstacey]

The People watching opportunities would be awesome !

[FanaticalFox]

There are flats above a massive waitrose?! Where?! You may struggle to mortgage a flat above a shop. Apart from that if you don't mind noise then go for it. I'd love to have a shop that handy!

[Babbaganush]

It's not the one on Finchley Road is it? Lovely flats above it! Other than the noise of deliveries I can't see a problem.

[hellokittymania]

Babba, yes it is. That location is actually ideal for me as I am visually impaired and can get around very easily in that area and have access to the 02 centre and everything else. I am going to view the flat tomorrow.

[hellokittymania]

Fanatica, I got very excited when my mom told me about this place. I love Waitrose! I like that area in general because everything is right there.

[Ginkypig]

You might have noise problems in term of late or early deliveries and businesses have different rules about rubbish collection so for example my old flat had a business that had a bin lorry collection at about 11:30pm. Also being a shop the street will likely be busy with people.

If none of that bothers you (it didn't bother me) though I don't see many other cons really

The massive pro though is you can estimate the times they mark down stuff for discount and always get the best of it!

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Positives - just think of the parking threads you'd be able to start...

[hellokittymania]

Ginkypig, I know this might sound like a silly question, but do we use the same bins as the supermarket?

Also, if any repairs or other things need to be done in my flat, would I have problems since it is above a big shop?

[Ginkypig]

No my assumption would be they have their own and the flats will probably have their own communal bins. Either on the street or possibly in a bin store (every town is different)

Also I don't know but I don't think you would have any issues with normal repair work.

My view is your home will be no different to living above a person in terms of repairs. I'm not an expert though!

[hellokittymania]

OK thank you! :)

[toffeeboffin]

Used to live opposite a massive Asda as a student.

Handy for alcohol top ups, flapjacks runs, general shopping and people watching opportunities. .

Very busy road though.

[FanaticalFox]

Ah i used to live just down off by the finchley road! Good luck OP great area x

[hellejuice91]

The downs

You will be woken up by deliveries early morning

People will park in your spaces and get in the way

When the store has work done it will keep you up at night

Ups

If you need a pint of milk you don't have to go far

Probs good transport links


People watching

[Applebite]

Friend of mine lived above sains in Clapham. He loved it and now lets it - all his tenants seem v happy too! Great for impromptu parties.

[PossumInAPearTree]

Boy racers using the car park at 3am? If there's a car park?

[originalbiglymavis]

Delivery lorries sitting outside your bedroom window at stupid o'clock with​ their engines running because they can't deliver to tell store before silly o'clock.

We didn't live above but near a large waitrose. Handy for shopping though.

[hellokittymania]

I don't drive, but it's something to think about if I have friends visiting who do. I don't actually know where the car parking is. I have never been around the back of the shop. I thought people just parked at the 02? If anyone lives around this area, can you tell me

[opengoal]

I live on a very busy road in London, although not above the shop. I know the O2 centre/Finchley Road area and my road is similar.

The road noise can be annoying - people don't drive properly and rev their engines all the time. Sirens too. We have good double glazing but it's still pretty loud, enough not to hear the TV (I often end up watching with subtitles).
The local air pollution will be bad. I don't actually notice it myself when I breathe as I'm used to it, but there are lots of recent stats about it and I just accept we'll have a lower life expectancy because of it. Hopefully it will improve once Sadiq introduces the T-charge.

Personally though I like the convenience of it and like being in the middle of things, much better than living in a sleepy suburb! Public transport is great and we don't need a car here (which is just as well as there's no parking).

[hellokittymania]

I'm a bit afraid of the answer here, but how early are we talking about? I have been living across from a construction site They usually start working at 8 o'clock though.

[JigglyTuff]

The car park is locked at night and the entrance to the flats is round the side. I think it'd be pretty quiet really. Deliveries might be noisy but they come round the back. There's a cookery school on the first floor so may be cooking smells?

Super convenient location and a taxi rank outside the front door!

[JigglyTuff]

The car park is in the basement and it used to be free but not sure if it is now. It's notoriously tight though so you'd be better off getting visitor permits for on street parking (plus the only way out of the car park is into Waitrose!)

I'd imagine the flats are fairly well insulated as they were purpose built mid 20th century

[opengoal]

Oh, the parking thing is awkward for visiting family. Parking rules and enforcement is strict and realistically it's better for people to use public transport when visiting. And when we've had workmen come, they complain about having to pay as well, or drive around for ages trying to find a parking spot. Might be easier for you as I think there's parking at the O2, although if it's not free they'll grumble about it.

[expatinscotland]

I lived in a flat above a busy supermarket on a main road for 3 years and loved it. You get used to the noise and don't really hear it after a while. The access was terrific - we were young professionals and it was in a lively part of town so in addition to having shopping right at our fingertips, we could walk to restaurants and bars and major attractions were a short and cheap taxi ride away. The drawback, if you consider it one, is that people often wanted to crash at our place, something we didn't mind as it was a 2-bed, 2-bath flat. We were very popular . It also had a balcony and with the noise from the shop, you could pretty much make as much noise as you wanted in the flat.

Go for it.

[opengoal]

Ask about the communal bins. Ours is located in a separate bit of the building and you have to go out on the street to take your bin bags out. Not a huge problem but I always feel a bit embarrassed as it's a busy street! Architects never seem to think of issues like this.

[PossumInAPearTree]

Where I A my shops aren't allowed to have deliveries if in a residential area until 7am. Not sure if that's a local rule or national?

However there is no law about bin emptying and I get woken every Thurs morning about six in the m