Road noise in new house

rach_k

Just give it some time. I used to live next to a dual carriageway and barely noticed it, but when I moved to a quiet street I found the noise of a neighbour's vans infuriating. After a few months I stopped noticing the vans and I now find big roads annoy me. It'll surprise you what you get used to. I also found that I was much more sensitive to everything when pregnant so that might not be helping your perception of the situation, as well as the fact that you're sitting around waiting for the baby to arrive, giving you time to dwell on things. As others have said, when the baby arrives you will be occupied with lots of weird and wonderful noises, so try to ignore your doubts for now and reassess in 6 months.

SallyG

http://www.extrium.co.uk/noiseviewer.html
these are the Defra noise maps done for the Environmental Noise Directive - a useful broad brush guide for prospective buyers.
Don't expect the Local Authority or Highways England to do anything about road noise and you won't be disappointed.

jAXOMSHALOM

I'm sorry to read that the noise from the road bothers you. We also live on a main road in a remote rural area (for several years). We chose this place because of work - the road is treated in the winter as a matter of priority, which means we can get to work all year - if the car breaks down, it's a good walk to the bus stop a few miles down the road.
Our dream of living in the middle of nowhere up a track will never be realised because of real life practicalities.

There are also no neighbours, which is a bonus for us! However, vehicle noise does bother us at times, especially with the cattle grids here as well. Most of the time, it doesn't bother us at all. We don't have people loitering outside our house, as the road acts like a barrier.

Basically, what I am trying to say is whilst you are aware of the noise, consider the good points.

Davesnave

SallyG wrote: »

http://www.extrium.co.uk/noiseviewer.html
these are the Defra noise maps done for the Environmental Noise Directive - a useful broad brush guide for prospective buyers.

That's interesting. We used to live in a city quite close to an arterial route, but apart from the odd ambulance and police siren, we weren't aware of it.

I used to say jokingly that entering our cul-de-sac at the end of a working day was like slipping into another dimension, but the noise map confirms the effect, with the red and orange kinking around that area.

I suppose the quietness was caused by a particular mix of buildings and topography. Something caused it but I can't see anything obvious.

moneyistooshorttomention

SallyG wrote: »

http://www.extrium.co.uk/noiseviewer.html
these are the Defra noise maps done for the Environmental Noise Directive - a useful broad brush guide for prospective buyers.
Don't expect the Local Authority or Highways England to do anything about road noise and you won't be disappointed.

Quick check later and that map only covers England. I checked my last location (ie home city in England) and it confirmed it was an objective fact that where I was was too noisy. Then couldnt check where I am now - as Wales isnt on the map.

OP may live somewhere else in the country.

moneyistooshorttomention

Found noise maps for some more of the country:

Wales is at:
data.wales.gov.uk/apps/noise/

Scotland is at:
https://noise.environment/gov.scot/noisemap/

It starts getting more complicated for Ireland.

Cathyann

I live in England and the map shows our road as orange. Could be worse I suppose! I agree with what one of the other posters says, I’m sure being pregnant is not helping my sensitivity and we will have a lot more noise to worry about soon. And less time to relax in the lounge!

Flutterbat17

Doesn’t bother me too much things like general car noises etc, the house we are buying fronts into the village square and there is a stream of traffic - cars, vans and buses for school kids etc. I’m used to those noises. Actually kinda helps me sleep!
But things like house/car alarms or beeps in general, loud music in gardens or dogs barking really winds me up.

I’ve lived near a busy shop area with lots of noise and found it to be fine but when we moved to our current house out in the burbs, which are all new builds there is constant house alarms going off, lots of dogs barking! In summer the noise levels are so loud due to all the gardens backing on to each other so you can hear TVs playing, music, talking, kids screaming/playing, dogs barking etc Drives me mad! Give me traffic background noise any day!