Would this put you off?

[StuckInARug]

There’s a house we’re considering, it has an amazing big garden which is the main thing for us. We just found out there is going to be a 15 storey block of flats being built about 200m from the back of the house. It will be visible from the back garden.

Would this put you off?

It's London so wouldn't put me off as I see those development all the time now on my commute. I wouldn't buy in London and much prefer the country life now.

I am at work at the moment but will post a photo of Google maps to give you an idea of distance. Really appreciate all the views. Ultimately we’ll need to decide if it’s worth the risk and I think we’re not sure yet.

200m is a long way in London. Unless it was in a location which would cast shadow across my garden all day, it wouldn't bother me. It's not a close neighbour at all.

Hope this helps. I’ve marked the house in pink, and orange is where the block of flats will be. Only a section of that plot will be 15 storeys, most of the (the top section) will be 5 or 6 storeys.

I'm in London and it wouldn't bother me. Our house is a terrace and lots of the surrounding houses are split into flats so there are lots of kitchens and external staircases that overlook our garden already. Also, 200m is similar to the length of eight swimming pools which is quite a distance.

It would very much depend on what kind of compromise I have to make with money.
If there was no way I could buy a similar place for this money without the block of flats I probably would buy it.

Oh that’s way further away than I thought it would be - it’s definitely not an issue!

In London? No it wouldn’t, there’s construction happening everywhere. It does make me laugh that people are so horrified at the thought of overlooked houses - surely the majority of ordinary streets of houses are overlooked by the next street behind their gardens? I wonder if everyone on MN lives in the middle of a field. Similarly, the people who live in flats are - and I know this might be hard to believe - not all violent crack addicts who listen to drum and bass at 3am and fly tip in the communal garden. Many flat-dwellers are ordinary working professional middle class parents!

I think it's too far away to worry about. You could ask for a small reduction to pay for mature trees to be planted to block the view. Say 5k?

15 storeys? No way. That's MASSIVE. A block of flats 14 storeys high was built near to where we live (north London) and it took nearly two years to complete. That's two years of noise and disruption every time you step into the garden. I'd look elsewhere.

I live rurally, but have lived in London also.

From where I live rurally, 200m would be an eyesore. But there would be limited element of being that extensively overlooked tbh.

The noise element of the construction, disruption and dust however would put me off. But again, in London it was just par for the course so very different.

@TedMullins

In London? No it wouldn’t, there’s construction happening everywhere. It does make me laugh that people are so horrified at the thought of overlooked houses - surely the majority of ordinary streets of houses are overlooked by the next street behind their gardens? I wonder if everyone on MN lives in the middle of a field. Similarly, the people who live in flats are - and I know this might be hard to believe - not all violent crack addicts who listen to drum and bass at 3am and fly tip in the communal garden. Many flat-dwellers are ordinary working professional middle class parents!

This is so true! Everywhere in London is overlooked. For me though, it's the thought of living through all that building work that would put me off.

@TedMullins

In London? No it wouldn’t, there’s construction happening everywhere. It does make me laugh that people are so horrified at the thought of overlooked houses - surely the majority of ordinary streets of houses are overlooked by the next street behind their gardens? I wonder if everyone on MN lives in the middle of a field. Similarly, the people who live in flats are - and I know this might be hard to believe - not all violent crack addicts who listen to drum and bass at 3am and fly tip in the communal garden. Many flat-dwellers are ordinary working professional middle class parents!

We’re not overlooked and haven’t been in any of our houses. We don’t and have never lived in a field, but houses can be positioned in such a way that their gardens aren’t overlooked (and trees planted etc). I understand it’s different in London and other towns/cities, but 15 stories is pretty huge in my eyes!

And yes, the building work would be an issue for me. I found it annoying when a neighbour had an extension that took 3 months!
It doesn’t matter what other people think though, only the OP can decide what compromises she’s willing to make for that house.

We’re not at all bothered by the building work, we live in a block of flats 50m away from where a 12 storey block has just gone up, it wasn’t that bad, really. The noise didn’t bother us as much as the nursery that’s just next to our window 🤣. But still concerned about the feeling of it towering over us, and potential impact to house value…

In London it wouldn't be an issue for me having seen your Google image.

200m is fairly far in London and trees would likely to block it's view from the garden (though maybe not from higher floors). I don't think it would necessarily have a negative impact on resale value.

For London, that's miles away! I can't see why it would affect resale or bother you in any particular way, any more than that major train line that's closer...

AVOID

It wouldn’t particularly bother me. 200 metres is not exactly right next to you. If you’d have said 50 metres, maybe. But in London there’s often a high ambient noise level, and I’d be surprised if noise was a problem at that range. I’m 200m from the m3 and can hardly hear it. Just my 2p.

Just imagine social housing tenants sitting in their balconies, smoking grass and looking into your garden from above. No amount of greenery in your garden can screen that.
I said 'social housing tenants' because I don't think anybody will be allowed to build 15 stories blocks of flats and have private flats in them only.
BTW, I live in London and this happened at the end of our house, so we are moving :(

At that distance would be fine, but would think about impact on services - schools, doctors etc.

Yes. It would put me off. Apart from anything else, the value of your house will drop.

In London that wouldn't bother me. If you are going to stay anywhere in London for 10-15 years then there will be changes in the landscape. Nothing is guaranteed. The question in London is, is the location good for commuting, schools, parks, bars cafes, crime/safety etc

Thanks everyone.

We decided it’s not for us. We went to see it again at lunchtime and just feel the building is too near / would bother us. But I’m reality, it’s just “the last straw” - we were making too many compromises - the house needs lots of work we wouldn’t have the money to do for years, we would be spending 40% of our income on the mortgage, all our spare time doing up the House, the kids school commute would have an extra 15 minutes added to it…. I think the building was just the last straw.