Giant warehouse being built behind house we’re buying!! Help

[Pony86]

We offered on our dream house in April (£500k, full asking price), had a bit of a nightmare with broken chains etc but getting there now. The house has a massive back garden which backs onto an old disused government storage site with the warehouse being around 10m high (whiteish colour and pretty much just blends into the sky). We were told by the vendors that it was being knocked down and replaced as the site was really old. Found out today (a week or so away from exchange) that it’s being replaced with a 20m high mega warehouse which will totally overshadow the small street and the garden. I’m gutted. As much as it pains me, I’m considering pulling out. DH is trying to convince me we could spend a small fortune on mature trees and cover the worst of it. I rang the EA today, she had no idea and was shocked so it obviously wasn’t priced into the valuation. Would we be within our rights to suggest a small price reduction to cover some of the cost of mitigating the gigantic eyesore if we do decide to stick with it? I don’t want to come across like chancers price dripping before exchange but this is a hideous situation. Would welcome any thoughts / advice!

I think you've had a lucky escape tbh! Thank goodness you had that conversation.

Definitely pull out.

Similar development near us has been in the news for these huge Warehouses

Drove past weeks ago and they are bloody awful, feel for those living with them. It wouldn’t be for me.

It’s not just how it looks @Pony86 What’s it going to be used for? Will there be heavy goods vehicles in and out all day? Forklifts bashing around noisily during working hours/weekends? Will it have a lot of employees having their breaks and lunches near your boundary. Sounds travels. I’d 100% pull out.

It’s not your dream home anymore. Your dream home didn’t have this behind it.

My uncle bought a house that faced open fields in five years later. Cadbury is built a bloody great factory on the land.
He was lucky to break, even when they moved

It sounds like you may have commissioned a planning search which will tell you about for local developments. The ‘usual’ searches will tell you planning constraints relating to the area, previous permissions relating to the property, and local infrastructure development proposals. It’s not always appropriate to do a planning search (not every house had a potential development site next to it). I think more specialised searches should have been discussed and offered at the outset.

Another vote for pulling out. If you're spending half a million on a house you need to be 100% happy with it, or at least be able to live with any downsides. I couldn't live with this.

I guess you've googled the Nacton Warehouse? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kgvdgeq1yo

Another vote for pulling out. You're not committed until exchange, get out of there!

I'm with everyone saying pull out @Pony86. It will no longer be your dream house with that looming over you every day. Not to mention noise, potential fumes etc...

We pulled out of a purchase during the very early stages a few years back after we discovered foundations being dug in the field behind the village house we were buying. Visiting from 200 miles away for a second viewing, by chance we'd driven into the car park of a neighbouring country pub and were curious as to what was going on.

We immediately drove to the estate agents and asked if they knew what was being built..."Oh, just a couple of bungalows", they said. A quick look on the planning portal showed it was actually several huge 'executive homes'.

As part of the reason for choosing that particular property had been the views to the rear over open fields, we withdrew our offer. We felt bad for the vendor, an older lady going through a divorce after her husband ran off with a younger woman, but I knew I'd never be happy there.

Unfortunately, the house eventually went into auction where it sold for 100k less than our accepted offer.

And fork lifts beeping all day

I would pull out too. Something like this does not go under the radar, and I'm certain the vendors would have known about it.

You will find something else.

There are quite a few articles on BBC News about how these mega warehouses can affect local residents, none of it good. Things such as constant noise, huge floodlights on throughout the night etc etc.
Add to that the fact that the house will inevitably plummet in value, and I'd be pulling out of the sale, to protect family finances and future quality of life.

Pull out you won't be able to sell it.
Absolutely gutting but I'd rather the short term heartache now than long term.
Also ask your solicitors what the hell you are paying them for, I wouldn't be happy no one has brought this up.

@goldtrap that is awful

It’s probably the reason they’re selling (or trying to!).

I think the other thing to consider is, if this isn’t your forever home, you might have a really tough time selling it in the future.

Losing lots of money on the sale price aside, it would be a dealbreaker for lots of buyers - so when you’re ready for your next home, you might have to wait a long time to buy it!

suspect someone somewhere knew exactly what was going to be built on that land. i'd pull out ... it's not going to be a dream, it may be a nightmare

We live fairly near to a warehouse unit. The lorries are an absolute pain, blocking roads coming down residential roads as they have taken the incorrect turning and driving like idiots. Noise is also an issue not only traffic but beeping of forklift trucks, staff shouting, music, shift alarms going off, tannoy calls. We aren't direct neighbours but all of this noise travels.

@Manyoaks

Your post is how I would imagine it to be, horrendous.

I would pull out.

Another vote for pulling out. It’s understandable that you’re emotionally invested but you will find something else that doesn’t have a massive warehouse behind it. Im sure you can do without the hassle in your life, all the points have been made above but it could be a massive chain around your neck. I don’t think a bit of a reduction is a remedy here - even if 100k plus. Walk away and consider yourselves very lucky to have found this out before exchange. It’s tough but for the best.

If you love the house and the garden is long enough you could advise the sellers you’ll be pulling out unless they can massively discount. Like 15- 20%. Might work out depending on what other options you have. Someone will live there and someone will eventually buy it at some price.

There was similar in the news not long ago about a huge warehouse that was built behind houses and how it ruined where they were living.
Very wise to pull out.

I'd pull out. Immediately.

The house will lose value if the warehouse is built as described. Unfortunate for the sellers, but I wouldn't make it your problem.

They have built one near where I live. They are big very big. Don’t buy it.

Pull out. Imagine the carry on for you trying to sell it in the future. I feel sorry for the current owners. This building of huge warehouses is just awful for people.