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Original poster

Living Near a Sub Station- would you?

27 replies

deepinthewoods · 16/05/2014 13:21

I have seen a fantastic house for sale- perfect for us in every way- we are looking to move soon. Problem is that it is adjacent to an electrical sub station which is 25 metres from the house.
Should this be a concern?
Trying to google this leaves me in a state of confusion- I find everything from brain cancer to totally harmless. Do you or would you live near a sub station?

OP posts:
specialsubject · 16/05/2014 18:22

recent thread on this very topic - scientifically there is no proven risk unless you climb the fence and touch something. (check the WHO website) Your house is full of far larger e-fields.

however if you can see or hear the substation, that is different as you need to weigh that up.

Original poster
deepinthewoods · 16/05/2014 18:33

What do you men "see or hear" The station is behind a fence so can't be seen, and no noise that I can hear. Thanks for replying.

OP posts:
sillymillyb · 16/05/2014 18:39

I personally wouldn't risk it, but totally understand that others might.

The only thing I would also consider though is when / if you come to resell. You are going to appeal to less people and therefore it might be worth factoring that in?

Original poster
deepinthewoods · 16/05/2014 18:51

silly- that is a consideration, but this house is selling for 25K under valuation- so a bargain for us- I appreciate what you say about reselling though- it is an issue.
My youngest is 14 and I won't be pregnant again. The house is amazing otherwise though.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 16/05/2014 20:00

can't be seen -fine.
no hum heard - fine.

that's what I meant. They are not designed to be pretty and the noise could be an issue.

otherwise there are no proven problems.

Lilymaid · 16/05/2014 20:15

I was involved in a legal discovery exercise for one of the utilities about the risks in living by a substation - we found nothing.

Original poster
deepinthewoods · 16/05/2014 20:21

Thanks guys.

OP posts:
Methe · 16/05/2014 20:23

It wouldn't bother me unless I could hear it.

PigletJohn · 17/05/2014 08:39

If you live in a town or village, you already live close to a substation, even though you may not be able to see it and may not know where it is.

If you live in the country you probably live close to a pole-mounted transformer.

On the other hand I suppose you may possibly live up a mountain with candles and a paraffin stove with no electricity.

Original poster
deepinthewoods · 17/05/2014 08:43

You are right piglet,many who live in the city will be near such appliances without even realising it. They are underground, in basements, and cites are criss crossed with many high voltage cables etc.

My mind is at rest nowregarding the safey aspect ( it is in a semi- rural location, on the edge of a town, the su station supplies 2-300 homes, nothing else.)

It's perhaps the resale value that is the biggest concern, but then by the same token, it's the cheap price that makes the house so attractive to me!!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 17/05/2014 11:20

one day this kind of thing will be taught in schools, and people will actually listen.

but if you are getting a good price and the house suits otherwise, go for it.

onedev · 17/05/2014 12:03

What do you mean Special?

specialsubject · 17/05/2014 12:18

I mean that one day people will understand real science as a matter of course. They will know (for example) that we are made of chemicals, that nothing is chemical-free except vacuum, that no anti-ageing cream works, that losing weight is simply a matter of calories in versus calories out (unless you have an illness that affects metabolism), that temperature is irrelevant for UV strength and that (no offence, OP, you aren't the first) worrying about a substation when you live in a house full of electrical wiring and gadgets is a non-problem.

and those who know and understand simple science will not be labelled as 'geeks'.

Nocomet · 17/05/2014 12:23

Yes the pole mounted transformers in the next field. Two substations in the nearest village so lots of houses and the school are near one or the other.

onedev · 17/05/2014 12:58

Thanks Special Smile

Original poster
deepinthewoods · 17/05/2014 15:42

special I find your comments interesting. I have an honours degree in science, I am well aware of emf fields, I am also well aware that our scientific understanding deepens and changes as research progresses so I find your comment "one day this kind of thing will be taught in schools, and people will actually listen" a little redundant in my case.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 17/05/2014 15:51

I also have a scientific degree and do not think that this is a risk is worth worrying about. While we should all indeed keep an open mind, what made you worry about it in the first place?

I have a power pole at the end of my (admittedly big) garden, a power line crossing it and a substation up the road. None of these things were an issue when buying the house. In fact the power company give us a free tree trim every few years, bonus!

MissBetseyTrotwood · 17/05/2014 20:20

We decided not to offer on a house near one because there was a lot of heavy goods traffic going to and fro from it at all hours of the day and night. And it hummed.

lessonsintightropes · 17/05/2014 21:33

We did withdraw an offer on a property in SE London very recently which had a substation very nearby. It wasn't one of the brick boxes though, you can see the little concrete pointy uppy things - apologies for technical term ignorance! - and there was a hum/noise which we didn't see on first viewing.

So I'm clearly not a scientist, just a typical buyer, and it did put me off, sorry, just thought you'd like to know that it might possibly be an issue when it comes to resale for some buyers.

Chewbecca · 17/05/2014 22:34

There is one in a fenced area at the bottom of my garden, about 100ft from the house. I can't see or hear it.

When we were looking to buy, initially it put me off..... Until I realised that there was one about every 20 houses along the road, so realised that as good as every house on this estate is probably within 100ft of one. I did want to live on this estate and the houses always sell well here so decided it was irrelevant.

whataboutbob · 19/05/2014 09:09

There was a pan European study that found increased incidence of leukaemia in children born within 100m (I think) of electrical pylons. The study is available online and lists the amount of electromagnetic radiation which the researchers believe to be harmful. I have a house near high tension lines and got someone in from the national grid to take measurements, luckily they were below the threshold. I'd bought the property by then.

RCheshire · 19/05/2014 09:58

The study everyone refers to is from the cancer research group at the university of Oxford in 2005. They found strong correlations between EMF levels and childhood leukemia. Many people have heard of this research which received a fair amount of media coverage.

What most people do not know is that the same research group published a subsequent paper earlier this year with very different results - the most obvious interpretation of which is that the 2005 results were actually due to population characteristics.

If you've any nervousness about EMF levels the most appropriate thing to do is hire a meter (don't buy one as the cheap ones are rubbish) and check the levels in your current house, new house, garden etc. As others have indicated, you are likely to find that the gadgets you have in your phone are bigger culprits than the substation down the road.

Original poster
deepinthewoods · 19/05/2014 10:00

Thanks everyone. My youngest is 14 years old, I am not too worrried, the gadgetsm wireless etc and even emf from the sun is probably higher anyway. we will probably put in a bid quite soon.

OP posts:
whataboutbob · 19/05/2014 20:48

Didn t know about he follow up study Cheshire - sonds interesting, I ll check it out.

ManWithNoName · 19/05/2014 20:53

I think 25m is quite a long way away.

If it was in plain sight I wouldn't because they are just ugly but if it is shidden then not a problem.