Merivale Lane

PHOTO: JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF Merivale Lane residents spokesman Karl Smith says developments like the one Williams Corporation is planning for the street will lead to the “touristification” of neighbourhoods.

Residents in an affluent Christchurch suburb are outraged at plans to build two high-density housing developments on already congested streets.

They fear the developments in Merivale Lane and Leinster Rd in Merivale will lead to the “touristification” of their neighbourhood, if snapped up by Airbnb-type operators. 

The residents are also concerned the buildings are being considered and approved under residential zoning rules, without neighbours being notified or allowed to have any input, when they should be considered as commercial operations.

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