Residents welcome unfinished housing development demolition

Building work stopped on the housing development in the Waterside area of Londonderry a number of years ago

Residents living in Londonderry’s Waterside have welcomed the demolition of an unfinished housing development following years of concern about antisocial behaviour.

Demolition work began at the Dunfield Terrace site, which was partially destroyed in a fire in the summer of 2022, last Wednesday.

The site owners have previously been ordered to demolish it by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Residents' spokeswoman Felicity McCall said people living in the area were delighted action was now being taken.

The site clearance got under way last week

“The most positive benefit is that no longer can it be a haven for antisocial behaviour that had become such a big issue,” she told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.

She added: “Perhaps the authorities will realise this is not a suitable site for development on so many counts”.

The development was extensively damaged by fire in 2022

Building work stopped at the Dunfield site more than four years ago.

Residents have long held concerns about antisocial behaviour in the area and have previously held a series of protests at the site.

In November 2022 Derry City and Strabane District Council ordered the owners of the site to remove the structures and hoardings.

The Dunfield Residents' Association have in the past held a series of protests at the site

SDLP councillor Sean Mooney said he was delighted work was now progressing.

He said there was an onus on the council to take the views of local residents into consideration should any future planning applications be submitted for the site.