Saturday, 09 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Heritage protection 'bombshell'

Bernard Orsman
By
Bernard Orsman
16 Jul, 2015 03:51 AM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Photo / NZME.

Photo / NZME.

The heritage lobby is predicting wholesale destruction of the city's character suburbs following an interim call to loosen heritage rules.

The independent panel hearing submissions on the council's Unitary Plan has rejected a council proposal to protect all pre-1944 houses not already covered by special character or heritage controls.

The panel said based on evidence, the pre-1944 buildings are not deserving of historic heritage scheduling or inclusion in a special character area.

The panel does not support the inclusion of additional special character areas in the plan "at this stage" and says they should be addressed by a future plan change - a legal process that can drag on for years.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The pre-1944 demolition control overlay is placing unnecessary constraints and burdens on landowners seeking to develop their properties," the panel said in a interim guidance decision released yesterday.

There was no evidence, the panel said, to suggest pre-1944 buildings were at any significant risk of demolition, relocation or areas were at risk of losing their character.

Sally Hughes, a spokeswoman for the Character Coalition - made up of 60 heritage and community groups - called the decision a bombshell for heritage and a win for the pro-development lobby.

"Clearly they have listened to all the submitters who are saying heritage is getting in the way of their development aspirations," she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

An OECD report last month about New Zealand's economy said new heritage overlays stopping the redevelopment of land occupied by pre-1944 homes were among the blockages to more dense development on the Auckland isthmus.

The "interim guidance" is just that, and the council will have the final say on heritage rules when the panel makes final recommendations on the Unitary Plan, or planning rulebook for the city. This is likely to be towards the end of next year.

Related articles

New Zealand

Wellington super city: Game over

09 Jun 07:10 PM
New Zealand

Super city: We need a new plan

10 Jun 07:58 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Housing crisis a godsend for Labour

11 Jun 05:00 PM
Property

Auckland prices up 51.6 per cent

12 Jun 05:00 PM
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

South Island fires: Crews tackle blazes across several regions

09 Dec 05:29 AM
New Zealand

'Serious injuries': Four-vehicle crash in Waikato

09 Dec 05:02 AM
New Zealand

'I’m still alive': Passenger of TikTok killer driver nearly paralysed

09 Dec 04:40 AM
New Zealand

One dead after Masterton tractor and motorcycle crash

09 Dec 03:32 AM

“Never been a better time to buy an EV”

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

South Island fires: Crews tackle blazes across several regions

South Island fires: Crews tackle blazes across several regions

09 Dec 05:29 AM

People are being asked to stay away from the areas in question.

'Serious injuries': Four-vehicle crash in Waikato

'Serious injuries': Four-vehicle crash in Waikato

09 Dec 05:02 AM
'I’m still alive': Passenger of TikTok killer driver nearly paralysed

'I’m still alive': Passenger of TikTok killer driver nearly paralysed

09 Dec 04:40 AM
One dead after Masterton tractor and motorcycle crash

One dead after Masterton tractor and motorcycle crash

09 Dec 03:32 AM
9 big questions over an EV road trip
sponsored

9 big questions over an EV road trip

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP