House on an A road
Discussion
I live next to what used to be a quiet country road on the outskirts of a village. Of course over the past 20 years they’ve built more estates and the road has become busier. I fitted secondary acoustic glazing which really helps. When I forget to get annoyed by incommers and people obviously speeding in what is supposed to be a 30mph limit. I don’t notice it
This one near my parents came on at £575k 6 months ago and has been repeatedly reduced to £450k now:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
It's quite large and would sell for the original price easily anywhere else in the village, but as you can just see it's hard up against a very busy A-road on a hill. As well as the noise IMO there's a reasonable risk of a car/lorry ending up in the living room one day.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
It's quite large and would sell for the original price easily anywhere else in the village, but as you can just see it's hard up against a very busy A-road on a hill. As well as the noise IMO there's a reasonable risk of a car/lorry ending up in the living room one day.
You will get used to it and you'll wonder what you were worried about.
As a kid we lived next to a suburban A Road with sash windows. Then about 400 yards behind the house was a freight carrying railway line. After a couple of weeks we no longer noticed the noise. Parents have been living there for 30 years now and it is not even a consideration.
We now live on quite a busy junction of 2 relatively minor suburban A roads but with constant traffic including buses and HGVs. Never notice an issue - just slight worry about our cats ( one has been hit but survived in 13 years living here). Pets would be my only consideration.
As a kid we lived next to a suburban A Road with sash windows. Then about 400 yards behind the house was a freight carrying railway line. After a couple of weeks we no longer noticed the noise. Parents have been living there for 30 years now and it is not even a consideration.
We now live on quite a busy junction of 2 relatively minor suburban A roads but with constant traffic including buses and HGVs. Never notice an issue - just slight worry about our cats ( one has been hit but survived in 13 years living here). Pets would be my only consideration.
irocfan said:
chappj said:
Thanks for all the replies so far.
Some more info...
It’s a single carriageway A road connecting two rural villages. Speed limit is 40 mph. The house is just outside the village where it goes to a 30 mph.
As somebody already stated, the house is priced within our affordability because of its location. It would be 20-30% more if down a single track country lane.
Directly opposite the house is a bridleway/foot path leading to pretty much endless country walks. Countryside aspect from all windows and in a plot of 0.5 acres. Village cricket pitch next door. Nice spacious driveway with potential to build my dream 3 bay garage. There are many positives, but obviously the busy road is a major turnoff.
I’m more interested to hear experiences from folks who have lived near a busy road to get a better sense of whether the noise gets to a point where it becomes unbearable or more like living near a flight path where you seem to not notice it after a few weeks.
there are A roads and then there are AAAA roads. We live on a minor A road which gets a little busy from time to time(rush hour generally) but most times it's quite quiet. You couldn't pay me enough to live on the A12/A127A13 in east London.Some more info...
It’s a single carriageway A road connecting two rural villages. Speed limit is 40 mph. The house is just outside the village where it goes to a 30 mph.
As somebody already stated, the house is priced within our affordability because of its location. It would be 20-30% more if down a single track country lane.
Directly opposite the house is a bridleway/foot path leading to pretty much endless country walks. Countryside aspect from all windows and in a plot of 0.5 acres. Village cricket pitch next door. Nice spacious driveway with potential to build my dream 3 bay garage. There are many positives, but obviously the busy road is a major turnoff.
I’m more interested to hear experiences from folks who have lived near a busy road to get a better sense of whether the noise gets to a point where it becomes unbearable or more like living near a flight path where you seem to not notice it after a few weeks.
I grew up and only lived in cul-de-sacs for the first 35 years of my life. We then moved to our current house, facing the main road through a small village. 30mph going to 60mph after each end of village.
It’s absolutely fine and that’s coming from someone who is very sensitive to noise. I noticed noisy stuff going past at night for the first couple of weeks then that was it.
It’s a bit busy during rush hour, plus we get a lot of farm traffic and quarry trucks. After rush hours though it’s lovely. Go out at night and it’s absolutely silent, just an owl twit-twooing.
I’d much rather have our current situation than live in a cul-de-sac back in a town where the road itself is a bit quieter but you’re surrounded by other noise from distant trains, planes, sirens etc.
90% of the houses in our village line the main road yet it’s still one of the most desirable villages in Northumberland.
I’d caveat all the above by saying we obviously get some w
kers (mainly bikers) acting like total knobs, even wheelying past my front gates, but I’d rather that than the hoards of boy racers that used to meet up near us when we lived near the seafront. Plus bikers pull wheelies in towns too. As said by others though, each situation is different, the house, the road etc.
Visit at different times and see how you feel.
My last house was about 3m away from a busy 40mph road and it’s surprising how much difference a fence and double glazing makes. In the front garden the traffic noise was almost unbearable but in the back garden, behind the fence and among some trees it was fine. It wasn’t quiet, by any means, but it wasn’t particularly intrusive either.
Similarly, inside it was never an issue either. I never had to raise the volume on the tv and never had any issues sleeping. The noise was always there of course, but aside from doing some weeding in the front garden it never caused any problems either.
Similarly, inside it was never an issue either. I never had to raise the volume on the tv and never had any issues sleeping. The noise was always there of course, but aside from doing some weeding in the front garden it never caused any problems either.
Road2Ruin said:
I have to say most of these replies are opionated or subjective at best.
I live next to the A38 between two major towns, 40mph limit, about 40 metres away. I can't say I notice the road, especially at night when it's quieter. And as for re-sale, its one of the most sought after areas locally!
Well that's the point of the thread isn't it? I live next to the A38 between two major towns, 40mph limit, about 40 metres away. I can't say I notice the road, especially at night when it's quieter. And as for re-sale, its one of the most sought after areas locally!
The OP asked for opinions and that's what people are offering.
Some people acclimatise to noise and some don't. Neither position is wrong.
Gareth79 said:
This one near my parents came on at £575k 6 months ago and has been repeatedly reduced to £450k now:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
It's quite large and would sell for the original price easily anywhere else in the village, but as you can just see it's hard up against a very busy A-road on a hill. As well as the noise IMO there's a reasonable risk of a car/lorry ending up in the living room one day.
Try this one: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...
It's quite large and would sell for the original price easily anywhere else in the village, but as you can just see it's hard up against a very busy A-road on a hill. As well as the noise IMO there's a reasonable risk of a car/lorry ending up in the living room one day.
£2.5 million. One for the property pr0n thread until you realise that it has the heady combination of being adjacent to the A49, on a bend, on a hill, next to an access road to Oulton Park. None of which seems to be priced in.
Bizarrely it's been on the market a while.
AC43 said:
Road2Ruin said:
I have to say most of these replies are opionated or subjective at best.
I live next to the A38 between two major towns, 40mph limit, about 40 metres away. I can't say I notice the road, especially at night when it's quieter. And as for re-sale, its one of the most sought after areas locally!
Well that's the point of the thread isn't it? I live next to the A38 between two major towns, 40mph limit, about 40 metres away. I can't say I notice the road, especially at night when it's quieter. And as for re-sale, its one of the most sought after areas locally!
The OP asked for opinions and that's what people are offering.
Some people acclimatise to noise and some don't. Neither position is wrong.
Anyway, I would be open minded. If the home costs less than comparable ones I'd make my own judgement. I used to live on a main road and was OK with it.
It's a red line for me, personally. I've lived in busy squares etc with lots of noise which was fine, but road traffic noise is not something i can live with.
Not sure of the validity, but have read that road noise is linked with significant increases in stress and heart disease.
For me though, I want to be able to walk out my door in peace. Simple as.
Not sure of the validity, but have read that road noise is linked with significant increases in stress and heart disease.
For me though, I want to be able to walk out my door in peace. Simple as.
chappj said:
We have found a house that ticks most of our boxes but is on an A road. It’s busy enough for a pretty much constant drone of background noise. The house is approx 30-40 metres from the road. The neighbours have said the road is much quieter in the evening and outside of school runs / commuting hours.
You can obviously hear the road in the front/back garden, but also inside the house (albeit much reduced). Windows look to be standard upvc, so we are wondering how effective acoustic glazing or replacement windows would be.
I’m interested to hear people’s experiences. Does anybody live near an A road very happily? What have you done to reduce the noise?
If you think there might be any problem for you to live by a busy road or any other road for that matter, be it traffic noise, speed of the traffic or your access on or off the property then buy somewhere else.You can obviously hear the road in the front/back garden, but also inside the house (albeit much reduced). Windows look to be standard upvc, so we are wondering how effective acoustic glazing or replacement windows would be.
I’m interested to hear people’s experiences. Does anybody live near an A road very happily? What have you done to reduce the noise?
We live in a very rural spot but about half a mile from the A1. Sometimes it's deathly quiet, sometimes it's noisy. Honestly, I don't actually notice it. We can't hear it in the house. I spend most of the time outside but still don't hear it because I think you just filter it out. It wouldn't put me off - it takes five minutes to get onto a road that'll take me anywhere. If anything, I see it as a benefit. I think hearing individual cars/trucks would probably be more annoying than the background hum.
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