Race tracks all over the World have issues with noise.
By ‘issues’ I mean local residents complaining about the noise.
Which strikes me as something of an absurdity. If you don’t like the sound of engines, don’t buy a house near a race track – pretty straightforward, really. Croft race circuit in the North East springs to mind – their whole operation has been severely curtailed by one family who moved into the vicinity and then complained to the local authorities about the noise from the race circuit.
I mean, it’s like buying a house near the M6 and then complaining about the traffic noise. The same could be said of any dwelling within earshot of airports, railways, quarries or football stadiums.
Part of the house buying protocol is a long, drawn-out process of due diligence and if you haven’t done your research properly you’d best suck it up. Buttercup.
So while litigious moaning NIMBYs jeopardise the future of most UK circuits it’s actually quite heartening to see Silverstone’s latest plans. If you object to the noise of highly tuned, high revving, barely silenced internal combustion engines, I suggest you look away now.
The home of the British Grand Prix acquired planning permission at the back end of last year to build 60 luxury leasehold houses right on the edge of the race track (overlooking the fast left/right/left complex called Maggots) to give a privileged few a truly grandstand view of everything that’s going on.
These 2,3 and 4 bedroomed homes aren’t exactly what you’d describe as affordable housing, though. Priced between 650,000 and 1.65 million they’re designed to appeal a certain category of well-heeled motorsport enthusiasts. And as much as I like the idea of lounging on my own balcony, pina colada in hand, watching every session of MotoGP for free, I feel a little priced-out.
The development will be completed by May 2022, earth works are due to start imminently. If the idea of trackside living appeals contact Flora Campbell at [email protected]
Keyword: Noisy neighbours