Notification of huge infrastructure project

CinderKona

Hi all,
I had a chance chat with a local in an area that I buying a house and I was told, "you do know there is a huge rail cargo interchange being built in the area" - this was news to me.
Should i have done more research or should my homebuyers survey have found this or even the conveyancer? 
Thanks

Slithery

It's your responsibility to do the research.

p00hsticks

When you say 'the area', how close are we actually talking ? The responses are likely to be different if it's literally going to be adjoining the property than if it's half a mile down the road.

AdrianC

CinderKona said:

should my homebuyers survey have found this or even the conveyancer? 

No, they shouldn't. This is entirely about your own basic research as to what part of the country to house-hunt in.

Where in the country are you?

Bad_Accountant

It depends on the searches your conveyancer did. Mine highlighted a new railway line planned for the town (over half a mile from the house), which I thought was pretty thorough. It didn't however mention the town's new build housing going up, or domestic planning applications, so I did my own check on those. I also searched the street name in the local papers' websites to see if anything interesting came up (crime, planning disputes, noise complaints, local bits and things). Your solicitor will do basic checks but you also should do your own research.

The surveyor will note general characteristics of the area (nearby facilities, etc) but it's not part of a RICS level 2 survey to research planned developments.

Scotbot

The local authority searches cover planned developments but they don't cover a wide area. The HS2 line will be about 5 miles from me but that wasn't picked up, nor did it need to be as it isn't close enough to affect me

CinderKona

about 1 mile away. Thanks I’ll find out further.

getmore4less

Start with the local plan.

Then the planning portal.

pinkteapot

Is it this project by chance?
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/09/major-project-begins-at-daventry-rail-freight-terminal-in-northamptonshire.html

As others have said, at that distance away searches won't have picked it up, and the survey is solely focused on the house itself. Forget about assigning blame and thank your lucky stars you had that chance conversation. Look at the plans, work out what (if any) impact it has on the house, and make an informed decision about whether to go ahead.