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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:
AlltheFs · 20/04/2023 09:55

We absolutely hate road noise so it would be an absolute no here. We live in a really small quiet village at the end of a private lane though as we hate traffic that much. I appreciate that we are lucky and have that choice.

The pollution is a huge concern too. We only drive electric cars, can’t stand the smell of ICE.

RenegadeMrs · 20/04/2023 09:57

My OH has asthma. My daughter has asthma. We used to like on the outskirts of a town on a road that got a lot of traffic. Not an A road or a motorway, just a normal two lane road with a 30mph speed limit.

We moved to villiage and a cul-de-sac with no through traffic and the difference in their asthma has been incredible. My OH doesn't need his inhaler any more. I couldn't really believe the difference, to the point where I struggle to see us living anywhere with heavy traffic again. Which is a bit of a pain as I do perfer living walking distance to shops and bars, but small price to pay for my loved ones being able to breath properly!

IsaiditwasLighthearted · 20/04/2023 10:17

Thelnebriati · 19/04/2023 22:23

There's an air pollution website you can use, you put in the postcode. Ours is terrible and we're not near a motorway!
https://addresspollution.org/

Ooh I'm in the lowest 1% postcode apparently! That's north Scotland for you, as the wonderful Billy C said "there's nobody heeeeeeeerrrree" Grin

Fansandblankets · 20/04/2023 10:19

I used to work in a care home which was close to the motorway. There was a row of trees in between. The house had a pool so a lot of time was spent out in the garden. We honestly didn’t notice it. It was like a low hum.

Branchbranchbranch · 20/04/2023 10:21

I grew up next to the M25. Could see it from my bedroom window.

I actually missed the noise when I moved out and had trouble getting to sleep without it!

If the house is perfect then go for it

Fansandblankets · 20/04/2023 10:23

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 20/04/2023 07:14

That website is interesting - ours is in a very low area which surprised me somewhat - we're in the 8th percentile.

Show quote history

I wish I hadn’t don’t that! We live no where near a motorway but are fairly close to the docks ☹️

To buy a house so close to a motorway
KimberleyClark · 20/04/2023 10:30

That website is interesting. The house I grew up in, which was next to a motorway, has a slightly lower rating than the one I’m in now which is further into the city.

Chocchip11 · 20/04/2023 10:53

I lived near a busy dual carriageway. I could tell what time it was of I woke at night by the level of cars I could hear. Only quiet 2am-4am. It didn't bother me too much though better than a noisy neighbour I had previously! It's generally a constant noise which in the end I could only hear if I stopped to listen out for it.

LIZS · 20/04/2023 11:12

Interesting. Just done the postcode search. It comes up with 72nd percentile. It is a main A road, within a few miles of motorways and airport. However I know from local info that NOx and pm10 emissions are well within statutory levels(which are higher than WHO).

Original poster
fabulousfailure · 20/04/2023 11:21

Our current house is 46th percentile, new one would be 59th.

OP posts:
AlltheFs · 20/04/2023 11:23

We’re in the bottom 25% which seems fair. It’s not perfect but very good.

ohsuzannah · 20/04/2023 11:36

We live on a hill. 4 miles as the crow flies from the M4. In our garden you can hear traffic constantly, day and night. Motor bikes in particular are very loud. I wish I'd known before we moved hereSad

Original poster
fabulousfailure · 20/04/2023 11:38

The motorway in question here is the m1. Not wishing to drip feed.

OP posts:
VirginiaQ · 20/04/2023 11:59

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

I remember someone adding in this situation to pretend the noise was the noise of the sea which made it less of an issue!

I live relatively near a motorway and you can hear it depending on which way the wind is blowing and always imagine it's just the sound of the sea which makes it a comforting noise. However I did reject a house on the same estate as the house literally backed on to the motorway. The estate agent made a big thing about the long garden which it was but didn't make up for the fact that if you jumped over the fence at the bottom of the garden you landed on the banking for the hard shoulder!

Snowpaw · 20/04/2023 12:13

I wouldn't. I lived on quite a busy minor road (not a fast road but a steady flow of cars during the day) and it got to me during nice weather when all I could hear was cars going past. I couldn't have windows open during hot weather in the evenings because the noise would wake me up. The air always had a traffic smell. We now live in a very quiet cul de sac and the peace it has brought me is priceless. I feel very grateful to wake up and walk out into the garden, hearing bird songs now. Home now feels very much like a retreat to go back to, when I've been out. I'd worry that if I lived in a very noisy place and constantly be wanting to escape the noise, which is not how a home should feel.

lemons44 · 20/04/2023 13:45

'Id also inaginevit affects fertility too.'

@JudgeRudy really interestingly we needed investigations for male infertility and went to the leading expert in Harley street. One of the first questions my husband was asked was did he grow up in an area near lots of farm land. I didn't understand why and then when I got home i googled and there is a link between male infertility and living in rural/farming areas. I'm still not 100% sure why but I think it's something to do with pesticides 🤷🏻‍♀️

I agree there seems to be risk everywhere OP so I would worry more about the noise than pollution. I've looked on the pollution maps listed above and near me, whole towns are down as high. It's also worth considering road vibrations as this could impact a house that close.

wombat1a · 20/04/2023 14:01

Not a chance, motorways never stop, at 1 in the morning on a nice spring night when you want the windows open you won't be able too.

Electric cars are not really any quieter on these sorts of roads as the majority of the noise at speed comes from the tyres not the engine.

TheExchange · 20/04/2023 14:26

It’s not just the noise it’s the feel of the really big lorries too. Sometimes it can feel
like the house is shaking.

JudgeRudy · 20/04/2023 14:43

lemons44 · 20/04/2023 13:45

'Id also inaginevit affects fertility too.'

@JudgeRudy really interestingly we needed investigations for male infertility and went to the leading expert in Harley street. One of the first questions my husband was asked was did he grow up in an area near lots of farm land. I didn't understand why and then when I got home i googled and there is a link between male infertility and living in rural/farming areas. I'm still not 100% sure why but I think it's something to do with pesticides 🤷🏻‍♀️

I agree there seems to be risk everywhere OP so I would worry more about the noise than pollution. I've looked on the pollution maps listed above and near me, whole towns are down as high. It's also worth considering road vibrations as this could impact a house that close.

My sister was a hydrologist. I recall her saying one of the biggest sources of water pollution is from slurry. We have millions of women on hormonal contraception. We have farm animals being pumped full of hormones and antibiotics...and women and animals are (ultimately) pissing into the water. In some areas the fish have become 'feminised' from the oestrogen type pollution from the slurry.
Add in some crop spraying, and ironically taking up cycling to 'get healthy' it's not hard to see why sperms counts nationally (generation upon generation) are declining.

Nordicrain · 20/04/2023 14:45

If it's bugging you, honestly don't. We lived in a house 2 rows of houses and then across the road and then 3 rows of houses from the M3 so not super close but close. It didn't hugely bother me most of the time but some days, depending on weather conditions, wind and traffic it wasn't great to be outside. DH could barely be in the garden, it really irretated him. So people have different sensitivities to it.

Phgty · 20/04/2023 15:01

JudgeRudy · 20/04/2023 14:43

My sister was a hydrologist. I recall her saying one of the biggest sources of water pollution is from slurry. We have millions of women on hormonal contraception. We have farm animals being pumped full of hormones and antibiotics...and women and animals are (ultimately) pissing into the water. In some areas the fish have become 'feminised' from the oestrogen type pollution from the slurry.
Add in some crop spraying, and ironically taking up cycling to 'get healthy' it's not hard to see why sperms counts nationally (generation upon generation) are declining.

Show quote history

Wow this is fascinating actually.

Phgty · 20/04/2023 16:10

JudgeRudy · 20/04/2023 15:48

Thank you!

Sorry to derail slightly- this is such a point of interest, my fertility surgeon said recently she's aware that male factor infertility has increased hugely during her career.

Original poster
fabulousfailure · 20/04/2023 16:49

:)

No problem. I think we've decided not to go ahead with it. All we can think about is the house and pollution. I really appreciate the input from everyone!

OP posts:
LysHastighed · 20/04/2023 17:55

People are assuming a switchover to electric cars because of the ban on new petrol/diesel cars in the UK being only a few years away now. But of course the old cars will still be circulating for some years.

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