'Creeping Airbnbism' impacting Lawrence Hill residents

A residents’ association is determined to maintain the community-family balance of one of Derry’s oldest residential streets, in the face of 'creeping Airbnbism'.

Speaking to Derry Now, a spokesperson for Lawrence Hill Residents’ Association (LHRA) said families in the street had been increasingly forced to negotiate the challenges presented by living alongside a highly transient population.

The spokesperson said: “When they are here, the people who come and stay at the growing number of Airbnbs on Lawrence Hill, for maybe a weekend, are not invested in what we do.

“At times there are groups of people standing on the street drinking before they go out or whatever. You expect that and it is not that which overly bothers us but we have had instances when people have been physically assaulted on the street, to quite a significant degree.

“That leads you to be fearful and mindful of your comings and goings and your front door and your own security.

“We feel unsafe at times because we have witnessed quite a number of physical assaults, which impact people in terms of going to work, going to school, how we walk up the street or down the street. We are very mindful of even going to a local shop, I mean how we walk to it, given the nature of who might be around at any particular time.”

Residents said they were also committed to the conservation and preservation of the unique Lawrence Hill area and their own homes.

The spokesperson explained they had been attracted to buy their family home in Lawrence Hill because of the mix of the community.

They added: “I was also attracted by the idea of city centre living. Lawrence Hill is a thriving area, which has recently attracted three young families returning to live and work in Derry, who have formed a strong sense of community.

“I wanted to come home to an environment which was mixed, which offered my family and me a way of living that was close to the city, a safe place to grow up, where my child and their friends could come and go to the house easily. That was my vision of how their life would be growing up.

“It hasn’t really turned out that way because over the last while there has been a significant change in the environment in terms of how the population of Lawrence Hill has shifted.

“Initially I liked the attractiveness of the diverse nature of what was here, flats and the mixed housing, older people and young people, but what we have now is an increase in the number of airbnbs and other commercial accommodation, which has impacted quite negatively on our family life.

“I have continually highlighted our right to family life in terms of the legislative process with Council and to any meeting with any MLA or public representative. We have rights too. We have rights as a community here. Our youngest resident is under one and the oldest is over 90 and we are trying to create a community with other families, all coming into the area as they have done since I have been here.

“I really welcome that,” the spokesperson added. “Our sense of community is developing but the other big players, including Council, are impacting very negatively on us.

“Ulster University, Magee now has accommodation for 25 flats up on the Northland Road and we don’t know where they are going to park.

“Parking was always our big, big issue because often we can’t get parked and while the police have been supportive to a point, we know Lawrence Hill is a main arterial route for the city, especially in terms of emergency vehicles, so we can’t, as anyone else can, double park as easily because we would be blocking a main arterial route for the city.

“Parking on Lawrence Hill is a major issue. We can’t get into our homes. I watch older women trying to carry shopping to their front door and it just feels so wrong when the street is lined with the cars of individuals who are staying here for a night or two.

“I have had occasions when on a Thursday night somebody has parked at my door and the car doesn’t shift until a Monday morning because they have been staying for the weekend and I can do nothing about that. I have to make the arrangements around that.

“And now, with three large volumes of accommodation, with that transient population, at least half of the street, if not more, is going to be full of vehicles that aren’t belonging to residents. We can’t get parked but the ‘businesses’ can.

“This situation has worsened as a result of a new boutique hotel accommodation. Tour buses are now being parked there to facilitate visitors.

“One of the residents who was undergoing chemotherapy recently, a really ill person, had to ask a friend to drive her to Altnagelvin hospital each time because there was no guarantee she would get parked outside her home when she returned.”

July’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s planning committee, turned down an application to convert an airbnb property to short-term lets.

The LHRA spokesperson said while this was a welcome move, in terms of alleviating some of the ongoing pressures in the area, however, residents feared the decision might be overturned if it was appealed.

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said it was very much aware of the issues concerning the residents association of Lawrence Hill.

They added: “Council has engaged with residents on a number of occasions, to consider their concerns and offer what support and advice it can, including signposting them to the relevant statutory agencies responsible for car parking provision, traffic and law enforcement against anti-social behaviour.

“From a Council perspective, its environmental health teams have made themselves available to offer advice and assistance in terms of noise complaints and the team have also responded to some environmental issues that were raised.

“Council can confirm that it has dealt with a number of planning applications and enforcement complaints over the past number of years that have included change of use and redevelopment, all of which went through the planning process with opportunities for residents to participate in the process.

“Any current planning applications being considered in this street and details of all planning applications and decisions are available online via the online Planning Portal at: planningregister.planningsystemni.gov.uk/simple-search.”

Responding to Council’s statement, the LHRA spokesperson said: “Yes, Council is ‘aware of the issues’ yet it still permits planning permission here, including retrospective planning permission for a ‘bespoke hotel’ passed with zero consultation with residents.”

A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson told Derry News it too was aware of the “issues” at Lawrence Hill.

They said: “Lawrence Hill is a residential street located at the edge of the University area.

“There are no on-street parking restrictions except for three accessible parking bays and double yellow road markings at the junctions.

“There is no priority system or mechanism in place to favour any vehicle owner except for those who display a blue badge to park in an accessible parking bay. The on street parking is available to both residents and other visitors to the area.”

Foyleside and the Moor Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Gahan told Derry News keeping people safe was the PSNI’s priority.

He added: “We are committed to working together with the community and relevant partners to address concerns. “We have officers on duty on a 24/7 basis in the city and District; included in this is our Foyleside and The Moor Neighbourhood Team who are on the streets on a regular basis, on foot and on cycle patrol.

“We monitor crime trends and deploy our people and resources to the areas of greatest need and vulnerability, regularly running targeted policing operations, working alongside other police colleagues and wider partners to address community concerns.

“We all have a responsibility to help make where we live safer for everyone. Reporting crimes or incidents that impact on your quality of life helps focus our patrols where they are needed and take positive action.  Ring us on 101, report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or speak directly to your Neighbourhood Team.

“A report can also be made to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, call us on 999.”

The developer responsible for the Lawrence Hill Airbnbs was asked for comment. At the time of going to press, none had been received.