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| Ulster University: Residents fear Magee will create 'Derry Holylands' | |
| (5 days later) | |
| Patrick Gill said the HMOs should be spread out | Patrick Gill said the HMOs should be spread out |
| Residents living near Ulster University's Magee campus have called on the council to cap the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) approved in the area. | Residents living near Ulster University's Magee campus have called on the council to cap the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) approved in the area. |
| This comes after a report exploring the expansion of student numbers at the Londonderry campus was published last year. | This comes after a report exploring the expansion of student numbers at the Londonderry campus was published last year. |
| The group, Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM), said most approved HMOs were concentrated near the campus and were disproportionate with the rest of the city. | The group, Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM), said most approved HMOs were concentrated near the campus and were disproportionate with the rest of the city. |
| A Derry City and Strabane District council spokesperson said new planning policies will put safeguards in place to ensure proposals for HMOs are suitable and appropriate. | A Derry City and Strabane District council spokesperson said new planning policies will put safeguards in place to ensure proposals for HMOs are suitable and appropriate. |
| The report said the increase to 10,000 students by 2032 would help address regional imbalance and be "transformative" for the region. | The report said the increase to 10,000 students by 2032 would help address regional imbalance and be "transformative" for the region. |
| However, it noted the quantity of privately rented accommodation and purpose-built student accommodation must be increased. | However, it noted the quantity of privately rented accommodation and purpose-built student accommodation must be increased. |
| What are HMOs? | What are HMOs? |
| A house in multiple occupation is a property rented out by at least three people who share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen, also referred to as a "house share". | A house in multiple occupation is a property rented out by at least three people who share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen, also referred to as a "house share". |
| The tenants must be from more than one household for it be an HMO. | The tenants must be from more than one household for it be an HMO. |
| All HMOs must be licensed by their local council unless a temporary exemption notice is in effect. | All HMOs must be licensed by their local council unless a temporary exemption notice is in effect. |
| Belfast City Council's NIHMO unit administers the regulation of HMOs on behalf of each of Northern Ireland's 11 councils. | Belfast City Council's NIHMO unit administers the regulation of HMOs on behalf of each of Northern Ireland's 11 councils. |
| Kathleen Feeney said she has noticed a change in the area | Kathleen Feeney said she has noticed a change in the area |
| Kathleen Feeney who lives in a terraced street, a five-minute walk from the campus, said she feels as if "the street as [she has] known for forty years is disappearing". | Kathleen Feeney who lives in a terraced street, a five-minute walk from the campus, said she feels as if "the street as [she has] known for forty years is disappearing". |
| "There are less families here now. More HMOs have sprung up and I feel that the atmosphere has changed," she said. | "There are less families here now. More HMOs have sprung up and I feel that the atmosphere has changed," she said. |
| "We don't always know our neighbours; it can be noisy at night and the worst thing is the traffic and congestion." | "We don't always know our neighbours; it can be noisy at night and the worst thing is the traffic and congestion." |
| "If the houses next door to me became HMOs, I would consider leaving the area, even though it would break my heart," she said. | "If the houses next door to me became HMOs, I would consider leaving the area, even though it would break my heart," she said. |
| According to the HMO licence register, there are currently 212 HMO properties in Derry overall. | According to the HMO licence register, there are currently 212 HMO properties in Derry overall. |
| Of that total, more than 200 are in the BT48 (Cityside) postcode. | Of that total, more than 200 are in the BT48 (Cityside) postcode. |
| There are seven in the BT47 (Waterside) postcode. | There are seven in the BT47 (Waterside) postcode. |
| CRAM are calling for an immediate cap of 10% on HMOs in streets neighbouring the university and then a long term cap once the council's local development plan is adopted. | CRAM are calling for an immediate cap of 10% on HMOs in streets neighbouring the university and then a long term cap once the council's local development plan is adopted. |
| 'Neighbours are disappearing' | 'Neighbours are disappearing' |
| Patrick Gill, a Park Avenue resident for 74 years, feels an oversaturation of HMOs weakens the sense of community. | Patrick Gill, a Park Avenue resident for 74 years, feels an oversaturation of HMOs weakens the sense of community. |
| "Local neighbours are disappearing," he said. | "Local neighbours are disappearing," he said. |
| "Expansion is good for the city but where people are going to live must be considered." | "Expansion is good for the city but where people are going to live must be considered." |
| Mr Gill said people were "worried about the area becoming another Holylands". | Mr Gill said people were "worried about the area becoming another Holylands". |
| "The HMOs need to be spread out or there won't be any long-term residents left," he added. | "The HMOs need to be spread out or there won't be any long-term residents left," he added. |
| He also said the number of HMOs led to a lack of parking. | He also said the number of HMOs led to a lack of parking. |
| Students' view | Students' view |
| Ciara Fitzpatrick and Leah Coffey said students like to be close to the university | Ciara Fitzpatrick and Leah Coffey said students like to be close to the university |
| Argyle Street is directly opposite the campus and most homes there are student HMOs. | Argyle Street is directly opposite the campus and most homes there are student HMOs. |
| Leah Coffey, from Fermanagh, and Ciara Fitzpatrick, from County Meath, are final year nursing students and have lived on Argyle Street for the past two years. | Leah Coffey, from Fermanagh, and Ciara Fitzpatrick, from County Meath, are final year nursing students and have lived on Argyle Street for the past two years. |
| Leah said the street's proximity to the university was an obvious draw for students but highlighted there is a need for more accommodation. | Leah said the street's proximity to the university was an obvious draw for students but highlighted there is a need for more accommodation. |
| "We had to be so quick in looking and securing a house. If you leave it too late, it gets difficult to find anywhere," she said. | "We had to be so quick in looking and securing a house. If you leave it too late, it gets difficult to find anywhere," she said. |
| "I'd say it is hard for residents with some students as it can be noisy. | "I'd say it is hard for residents with some students as it can be noisy. |
| "But I do think there should be better student facilities although we are in a city and it's hard with space too," she added. | "But I do think there should be better student facilities although we are in a city and it's hard with space too," she added. |
| 'Balance and compromise' | 'Balance and compromise' |
| People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said there is a balance to be found | People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said there is a balance to be found |
| A meeting is due to be held for residents on Thursday at the university chaired by Stephen Kelly of the Magee taskforce. | A meeting is due to be held for residents on Thursday at the university chaired by Stephen Kelly of the Magee taskforce. |
| People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin grew up in an area which has seen a rising number of HMOs and said "balance" was needed. | People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin grew up in an area which has seen a rising number of HMOs and said "balance" was needed. |
| "Residents are not against HMOs or university expansion - they actually welcome it - what they are concerned about is a quick change of the residential character of the area," he said. | "Residents are not against HMOs or university expansion - they actually welcome it - what they are concerned about is a quick change of the residential character of the area," he said. |
| "They don't want something to develop quickly like the Holylands that would utterly transform it." | "They don't want something to develop quickly like the Holylands that would utterly transform it." |
| Paddy Gray, professor emeritus of housing at Ulster University, co-authored a report into the Holylands in Belfast. | Paddy Gray, professor emeritus of housing at Ulster University, co-authored a report into the Holylands in Belfast. |
| He said there were accommodation models that worked for both residents and students in other university cities. | He said there were accommodation models that worked for both residents and students in other university cities. |
| Prof Gray said the view of residents are important in finding "an acceptable balance". | Prof Gray said the view of residents are important in finding "an acceptable balance". |
| "Students can bring a lot of money into areas too, especially for small businesses," he added. | "Students can bring a lot of money into areas too, especially for small businesses," he added. |
| 'Sustainable growth' | 'Sustainable growth' |
| A council spokesperson said some restrictions have been proposed in terms of the number of rooms permitted in an HMO property and a minimum square feet size of the property. | A council spokesperson said some restrictions have been proposed in terms of the number of rooms permitted in an HMO property and a minimum square feet size of the property. |
| There are also guidelines around ensuring that HMOs do not impact the character of the local area. | There are also guidelines around ensuring that HMOs do not impact the character of the local area. |
| They added that a taskforce, including political representatives and statutory agencies, has also been established, for residents to discuss issues. | They added that a taskforce, including political representatives and statutory agencies, has also been established, for residents to discuss issues. |
| At a planning committee meeting on 22 January, members agreed that all applications for HMOs, where they would lead to more than 10% in a street, will be brought to the committee for consideration. | At a planning committee meeting on 22 January, members agreed that all applications for HMOs, where they would lead to more than 10% in a street, will be brought to the committee for consideration. |
| A spokesperson for Ulster University said "student accommodation in the city needs to grow alongside and support the sustainable growth in student numbers". | A spokesperson for Ulster University said "student accommodation in the city needs to grow alongside and support the sustainable growth in student numbers". |
| The spokesperson said the university worked with its neighbours in North Belfast and will do the same in Derry. | The spokesperson said the university worked with its neighbours in North Belfast and will do the same in Derry. |