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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a house so close to a motorway

138 replies

fabulousfailure · 19/04/2023 20:22

Just this really. A lovely house has come on the market. We put an offer in which was accepted, now having second thoughts.

The issue is, it's really quite close to a major motorway. As in, 3 or 4 houses beyond ours, then a decent fence which is the motorway edge.

You can hear it, it's a bit like white noise, there all the time. I don't know whether we'd get used to it and just not notice it over time, or conversely whether it would become an ongoing irritant.

And then I've started to read up on air pollution. Forgive me but I knew little about this until now. What I'm reading sounds really scary. If you live within 150m or so of a road like this, it sounds like there are all sorts of health risks. Not just for us as adults like dementia, but also our children and potentially lifelong.

On the flipside, clearly lots of people live there now, and across the country so many people live near roads like this and in cities. Am i being really over anxious through Google groups this stuff?

YABU = it's not that bad, you can get used to it
YANBU = these are valid concerns, it is reasonable to hesitate in this situation

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 19/04/2023 21:47

We looked at a house in a very similar position. We decided that even if noise in the house would become white noise we would never want to sit in the garden or even just leave the patio doors open.

moonspiral · 19/04/2023 21:49

If its something that's bugging you about it now then pull out now. You won't get over it by the exchange time.

TruthsAndALie · 19/04/2023 21:50

No way for me. I’m v sensitive to noise although imagine some people aren’t but the pollution would be a major issue.

Springingintosummer · 19/04/2023 21:50

I would not. Might be tricky to sell again,

Seas164 · 19/04/2023 21:51

I wouldn't firstly because of the pollution aspect and secondly because of the noise. Hang out in a Motorway Service station on some deckchairs for an afternoon and see how you feel. That will be your back garden.

I know it doesn't bother some people, it doesn't sound like you're one of them. Valid concerns, I'd say.

tobedtoMN · 19/04/2023 21:51

Given that a house is the largest investment you will ever make I would be concerned how difficult it may be to sell on later.

SweetSakura · 19/04/2023 21:51

I wouldn't contemplate it. But I guess some people must or the houses would never sell.

Bambooflowers · 19/04/2023 21:51

What do you mean three or four houses beyond. Like three or four houses along your street or three or four streets away?

Phgty · 19/04/2023 21:53

I viewed my absolute dream home, but it was within half a mile of a motorway.

I did SO much research into noise and pollution, and really wanted to buy it but the pollution levels are really horrendous wgwn you're within 1km and the noise levels can be higher in the wet.

I decided not to buy it. So glad I didn't, I found a better property!

WakeMeUpInspring · 19/04/2023 21:53

I wouldn't. I used to live in a road off the North Circ and it was noisy and constant. Plus loads of helicopters hoovering looking for joy riders throughout the night,

Haribosweets · 19/04/2023 21:55

I used to live with my back garden overlooking a bypass 70mph. I loved it and helped with my tinnitus at night. Always would have window open at night. Also sat out in garden in summer and it never bothered me. I was renting though. Just be mindful of selling as it shows on here will put people off

BeBraveAndBeKind · 19/04/2023 21:55

I wouldn't buy near a busy road. A friend lived the same sort of distance from a motorway and her DC had lots of respiratory problems which improved massively after they moved.

Tumbleweed101 · 19/04/2023 21:56

Depends how loud it is sitting in the garden, and if this this kind of noise bothers you against possible pros such as being close to a motorway for commuting and travel.

My garden backs onto an A road. Not overly busy but I do notice the noise in the summer during the day when trying to sit out. It's never completely peaceful and I really noticed the difference during lockdown. However it doesn't bother me unless I think about it sitting outside. My windows block out any noise when they are shut.

ArcticSkewer · 19/04/2023 21:56

I wouldn't raise children there, no.

Probably wouldn't be so bothered for myself as at my age it's going to take a while for any effects to show up

Want2beme · 19/04/2023 21:58

I lived pretty much on top of a very busy coast road. My view was spectacular but the noise drove me to despair. If I'd continued living there, I'd've become a basket case. I really don't like noise. If it's niggling you now, that'll probably get worse if you move there.

familyissues12345 · 19/04/2023 21:58

We lived a similar distance from a busy motorway, it was ok, like a pp said it was almost like white noise. We lived there for 12 years and by the end of it barely noticed it

Gymmum82 · 19/04/2023 21:59

We live pretty close to a major motorway. Some days the noise is louder. Most days we don’t notice it. In summer you can’t really hear it at all.
it didn’t put us off buying and to be honest pollution is probably worse in most towns than it is here (rural aside from the motorway) if you love the house I’d go for it

IhateJan22 · 19/04/2023 21:59

Won’t be a problem soon with electric cars 🤷‍♀️

Daffidale · 19/04/2023 22:00

You don’t get used to it (the noise). If it bothers you enough that you wouldn’t want to sit in the garden or open a window then don’t do it.

we bought a house about a half mile from a dual carriageway. “We’ll get used to it” we said. Every time we go for a walk we bitch about the noise and how lovely it would be IF ONLY there wasn’t the main road just over there. Luckily the house is far enough away that unless the wind is in a really specific direction we can’t hear it from the house. Would drive me mad if we did.

and that’s before you consider the pollution

tourdefrance · 19/04/2023 22:01

Constant noise (like traffic) has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks.
There is a recommended safe noise level (in decibels) and even inside a house close to a motorway is likely to be in excess of this. Outside will be unusable and weather conditions eg cloud cover can really affect how the sound travels.

OrigamiOwls · 19/04/2023 22:04

I wouldn't because I know I'd never be able to tune out the noise.

Original poster
fabulousfailure · 19/04/2023 22:06

Bambooflowers · 19/04/2023 21:51

What do you mean three or four houses beyond. Like three or four houses along your street or three or four streets away?

Three or four houses.

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 19/04/2023 22:07

I would not buy it.
It's a concern which isn't going to go away,now it's on your mind it will remain until you walk away.
do it now before the paperwork begins.

Werewolfnotswearwolf · 19/04/2023 22:08

We used to live next to the M1 and I never properly noticed the noise until after lockdown ended. We then moved to a cottage in the middle of nowhere pretty swiftly! I would advise that you don’t do it. Noise is one thing, the other is pollution - our dog used to be sick all the time after going in water, she’s been fine the whole time we’ve lived in the new house. My eczema has cleared up. We all feel generally ‘better’. (Maybe anecdotal but I’m certain the M1 was a contributing factor!)