Anyone have experience of living in Smallfield, Surrey?

Ianp100

I’m looking at a property in Smallfield and wondered if the aircraft noise from Gatwick is an issue?

I went to check the area out today but not much air traffic due to covid so I could not get an accurate idea.

Does anyone have experience of living in the area?

Thanks

Blue_bell_20

I don’t, however I do live very close to an airport (LBA). In my area it depends where the house is vs the noise. I viewed one house under the flight plan and you could hear the plane very loudly when they took off/landed. Where we are it’s surprisingly protected, I guess a few houses and the position protects us. We still hear the planes and to be honest it becomes normal background noise. It’s great to see them taking off/landing, well it was pre covid. 

However this is a small/medium airport LBA. Which only has a fraction of traffic compared to Gatwick etc. Just viewing this house we didn’t know if we would hear them or how often, we took the risk and it worked out ok. We were only renting though, so worst case we could have moved 6 months later.

Are you renting or buying?  

Boa21

This is just a thought. You could download something like FlightRadar and plot the take off and landing in relation to the actual house you want to buy. That might give some idea as directly under the flightpath would be a lot noiser than close to. Bare in mid all flight activty at Gatwick is much reduced dues to Covid. This won't last forever

Westin

We are about 10 minutes away on the other side of Gatwick.  You will certainly see aircraft in the sky on final approach or just after departure but not sure that they directly fly over all parts of Smallfield (it is actually quite spread out).  East to West arrivals seem to route over the Mormon Temple (London Temple on maps), the Snowhill area, part of Copthorne before crossing the M23 and landing (if you get a map out or look on Google Maps you can probably track the flight path from the landmarks mentioned).

You might find contact with Smallfield residents on the local www.nextdoor.co.uk website.

The CAA website may also publish flight path routes.

The other Smallfield issues are the locality of the Traveller site.

Also, in normal years, on Sunday’s in summer there are banger races in the locality (fields running up to the M23) which can create noise, dust and large numbers of visitors.

Newnoel

Also flight paths change. We had friends in Harpenden, which is very close to Luton Airport but the flight paths didnt go over it. However, that all changed a couple of years back and parts of the town now get dreadful aircraft noise in the Summer, with a subsequent knock on to house prices

Ianp100

Thanks everyone for the replies.

May I ask where the travellers site is exactly and where the banger racing is held please?

I’m looking at a house in the Broadbridge Lane area if that helps.

Thanks

NameUnavailable

Hello OP I'm currently looking at a place in Ifield and had the same concerns over flight noise. I didn't even think about it at first of course when I viewed nothing flew overhead! I went back as I wanted to find out some info about the area and knocked on some neighbours doors. One lady was very helpful and as we were talking she interrrupted and said 'oh listen, a plane! I've missed hearing the planes!' - it certainly wasn't intrusive and to be honest I didn't even notice it until she pointed it out.

Of course in full swing planes are taking off and landing pretty much constantly so there will always be some background hum (apart from late night to early morning). Gatwick are also intent on expanding so it will only increase, but may not still be an issue for you personally depending on your tolerance to noise.

GDB2222

Gatwick has two runways, although normally only the southern one is used. Would it affect you if the northern one is used as well or instead?

Westin

Ianp100 said:

Thanks everyone for the replies.

May I ask where the travellers site is exactly and where the banger racing is held please?

I’m looking at a house in the Broadbridge Lane area if that helps.

Thanks

Broadbridge Lane is quite long, the very southern end possibly experiencing flight path noise over the northern end. That said I don’t think arriving flight traffic will be that disruptive.  You will be surprised how quiet many modern jets are.   

Even though the airport is much quieter at the moment you can still see and hear aircraft if you come down and revisit. A morning might be better.  You could always check the airport arrival/departure boards on the airport website to work out a good time to visit the area.

The Traveller site is north of your new house location towards the east side of Outwood.  

For the banger racing site google Smallfield Racing. You will then see the entrance point. The land down towards the M23 is the field/track part.  Issue really just in summer and Sunday or meet day traffic.

Boa21

GDB2222 said:

Gatwick has two runways, although normally only the southern one is used. Would it affect you if the northern one is used as well or instead?

Gatwick is effectively a single runway airport. The other might be used for emergencies/maintenance

Boa21

Newnoel said:

Also flight paths change. We had friends in Harpenden, which is very close to Luton Airport but the flight paths didnt go over it. However, that all changed a couple of years back and parts of the town now get dreadful aircraft noise in the Summer, with a subsequent knock on to house prices

Smallfield is 4k from the end of the runway to the north east. Most of the aircraft traffic is usually landing from the east and aircraft at this distance will be fixed on their established glide path this close in. Although landing planes are quieter than those taking off.

This might be helpful 
https://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/business--community/b_7_aircraft-noise/gatwick---noise-doc-2017.pdf