To buy a house next to a petrol station?

A five minute drive away isn’t anywhere near close - at 20 mph you’re still 1.5 miles away.

I’m loving the fear of exploding petrol stations.

Imagine if that happened a lot! There’d be bits of rubber hose, wilting bunches of flowers, bbq charcoal, Dairy Milk and screen wash bottles all over the place.

We live close to a petrol station, roughly a 5 minute drive away and luckily we don't have any fumes where we live. I hate going to a petrol station to fill the car up, the fumes really make me feel headachey and sick, so I wouldn't want to live by one.

There was a fire at a petrol station local to me a few year ago. The nearest house (literally next door) was severely damaged and the one next door slightly damaged. So it can happen. I assume that insurance paid for repairs.

They are on a busy High Street anyway so less worried about noise and traffic.

Actually just realised that we lived about 25 metres from one about 20 years ago and it never crossed my mind to be concerned.

It was the block of flats behind the petrol station that exploded in the case in Co Donegal

There’s always a risk of the underground tanks leaking (can’t remember the % that used to be quoted in the 1990s but it was higher than you’d like), but I think your primary issues will be noise, light pollution and traffic.

I had friends who lived in a flat above a petrol station shop. You couldn't smell anything more than vehicles usually make .

It wasn't the petrol station that caused the explosion, it was a gas leak from the apartments behind it. Criminal charges are pending.

A bit silly to only consider this now.
It would be handy for late night snack.

We have lived behind a petrol station for nearly 30 years and have had no issues with smells or noise (or explosions) but they have recently added a very noisy car wash which is very annoying.

I used to live above a petrol station and I occasionally worried about it. I did write to the local politician in charge of the fire service in my region because I am that sort of saddo. They clearly had done analysis of the risks of building above petrol stations and it was very reassuring.

I could never smell it but i faced into the back of the block.

The traffic noise would drive me mad now though!

Well lots of petrol stations will be closing in the coming years. So there’s that.

i lived near a petrol station for a year. It was opposite a pub, with a 3 lane road in between, and i was next to the pub on the side street, so more than 20m away, but not much.

There was no more noise than elsewhere in the city centre, and no fumes. The worst thing about it was being able to go and buy biscuits at 3am.

Im probably about 20 m away from petrol station and honestly you’d never know. Non issue

Used to live back to back with a service station and never minded. It was very handy. Quite well stocked M&S stock open 24/7 every day of the year.
Noticed you forgot carrots on Christmas morning? Nip to the garage. 2am period cravings? Nip to the garage. I miss it.

I don't think the worry about explosions is realistic - they're much better regulated than private homes, and when you consider homes have gas then you're probably more at risk of an absent minded neighbour than you are of a petrol station!

The thing i would be concerned to check is whether the petrol station is intended for just cars and vans, or HGVs (ie with a higher roof) Whilst traffic noise is something you might be used to, traffic stopping and starting is far louder than just passing traffic. If it's 20m away for cars that wouldn't be an issue but if it's lorries I would maybe go visit and see. I lived near a cross roads where lorries regularly had to stop and the noise and vibration of them starting up used to make my windows rattle, and sometimes my bed shake!

It might put me off, though it's not as bad as being next door. I am a bit of a worrier about that sort of thing. However, I lived about the same distance from a car mechanic garage for 15 years and didn't think anything of it until I read this post! Mainly liked the fact that I didn't have to go far for my M.O.T or any repairs. Certainly didn't consider it when we bought the house, but we were young then.

You say 24 hour petrol station, I say 24 hour chocolate! 😬

My cousin lived fairly near a petrol station, don't recall a smell. Also, most towns hardly have any petrol stations now, so it will probs close soon

As has been said, there should not be fumes. Thats not the issue. The issue is potential noise. How busy is the ss?

Wouldn’t bother me massively. I’d like having a 24 hour shop nearby!

No advice really, planning has been approved for one behind our house which I'm not thrilled by to put it mildly. There's nothing I can do about that except look at the positives like when I need milk.
Hoping everyone's gone electric by the time it's built!

If your mortgage is approved then that bodes well for future sales, and it sounds as though you love the house - maybe just cold feet?

I thought you were going to say it was literally next door!

I once was very keen on viewing a house, then got there and saw that it was indeed right next to a petrol station. I thought the noise and comings and goings would be too much. But 20m down the road I'd think you were fine!

Not to late to pull out. I think the fumes, noise & smell would end up driving me mad.