Residents slam ‘Airbnb-style’ holiday homes approved for back garden

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have slammed plans to put “Airbnb-style” holiday homes in a back garden in their street.

One neighbour accused Parkhill Group Ltd, the developer behind the proposals, of having “real contempt” for residents at a Lewisham council planning meeting, where the application was approved on Thursday.

Under the plans, three huts for short-term stays and outdoor seating will be placed in the back garden of a property in Wickham Road, Brockley.

The cabins, each of which will include a kitchenette, double bedroom and shower, will serve as holiday accommodation from Thursday to Sunday for 12 months, except during the school summer holidays, when they will be let out all week.

When the huts are empty, the garden will be available for use by schools and community groups.

Neighbours living in the quiet residential street told the meeting they were worried about the proposals.

Lauren Cleary said: “It’s not at all suitable for a residential area. I have serious security concerns regarding bringing the public into a private garden. There has been a real high volume of burglaries in local houses.”

“I think this seems to be a fairly transparent guise for a commercial venture hidden amongst a three-day-a-week community garden.

“The right to privacy of residents is completely ignored. The applicant says community a lot but there is a real contempt for the residents who are the community.”

Another neighbour, Ruth Wong, added: “The first hut is uncomfortably close and will block light from our garden room. I have concerns about what sort of door will be open to future developments because I’m somewhat sceptical of the concern for the community.

“I’ve also found it very difficult to contact this company, so I’ve got some concerns also with any timely responses to problems of noise and antisocial behaviour.”

A representative from Parkhill Group Ltd said the garden could be used for activities such as forest school classes and therapeutic horticulture during times when nobody was staying in the huts.

He said nuisance to neighbours would be avoided by screening potential guests before their arrival, banning holidaymakers from inviting other people over and fitting noise monitors in the garden.

He added: “This is an innovative response to a clear accommodation need that might otherwise result in a loss of housing stock through change of use. It is a scheme that is grounded in local history, celebrating local heritage, rooted in nature and supporting the local community.”

An all-Labour Lewisham council planning committee approved the plans unanimously.

Pictured top: Wickham Road in Brockley (Picture: Google Street View)