Tunnels below your house -HS2

[Beggarall]

We are contemplating a move to the Amersham/Wendover area in the Chilterns. HS2 is planned to go through this area but a long tunnel (with venting areas) takes it underneath some of the laces we are searching. Does anyone know the effects of having a tunnel underneath your house - even if quite a long way down. I have read about subsidence and vibrations but anyone got practical experience. Is this a "no go" issue? Thanks for any advice

[otherman]

No issue at all. So if you can convince sellers it is, you should get a deal.

[mikees]

Let me know if you need any advice. Used to live in Wendover now live in whiteleaf near Risborough. Think Cheib lives near Amersham as do few others

Mike

[C Lee Farquar]

Not advisable if you like ornaments on your shelves.

[jjones]

The fact that you are thinking it may be an issue means that future purchasers of these properties will also be thinking the same.

[northwest monkey]

You'll be sound. It's not like corners get cut these days when they build or refurbish anything...

From getting a mortgage point of view, what's the difference between a tunnel and a mineshaft as mortgage companies st themselves if they find a mineshaft nearby?

Just to put your mind at ease...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Hall_Tunnel

[Trif]

I remember being in the basement of a building opposite tower 42 and above the central line. It was certainly very noticeable when a train passed below.

[Andehh]

northwest monkey said:

You'll be sound. It's not like corners get cut these days when they build or refurbish anything...

From getting a mortgage point of view, what's the difference between a tunnel and a mineshaft as mortgage companies st themselves if they find a mineshaft nearby?

Just to put your mind at ease...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Hall_Tunnel

Can we get just a tiny bit of perspective in this thread?

You are comparing a modern Civil Engineering Megaproject, to mineshafts from the last 200 years+ & a tunnel collapse from 50 years ago?

They are building Crossrail underneath skyscrapers (as well as underneath a working Tube system!) and built the Channel Tunnel underneath the sea without a hitch, your house will be perfectly fine!

As for feeling anything, I highly doubt it. Imagine all the concrete, mud, soil, foundations etc etc - you won't notice it. That's some serious dampening. Modern trains doing 150+mph have very different (and incredibly advanced) vibration dampening compared to a clunky old tube trains/freight trains rolling past.


edit: Clifton Tunnel was built around 1850...

Edited by Andehh on Tuesday 27th June 08:14

[nyt]

Trif said:

I remember being in the basement of a building opposite tower 42 and above the central line. It was certainly very noticeable when a train passed below.

How deep will the HS2 tunnel be?
I too have felt/heard Central line trains in various buildings in London and the Central Line is one of the deepest tubes.

I also watched a program on Crossrail where specialist silencing technology had to be used to silence tracks running underneath the Barbican concert hall.

[dazmanultra]

"Amersham/Wendover" covers a large area - can you not check the HS2 route and make sure you're a reasonable distance from it?

[pmanson]

mikees said:

Let me know if you need any advice. Used to live in Wendover now live in whiteleaf near Risborough. Think Cheib lives near Amersham as do few others

Mike

Another ex-Wendover resident here (I grew up there), if you have kids the three schools are highly sort after.

From memory the proposed line is running parallel to the A413 and the bypass so unless you're looking at the Ellesbrough Road area (on the road out past the station) or Dobbins Lane I don't think you'd even notice them (Bar the engineering works).

I lived in Stanhope Close with my folks for 20+ years, last year when we were looking to move, had my 7 year old not been settled in schools etc we'd have probably have seriously looked at moving back