Media Release

15 November 2013

Old house or building? Check before removal or demolition

Owners of pre-1944 houses and buildings are being reminded to check new rules before making plans for demolition or removal.

While most rules in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan do not yet apply, some relating to heritage protection and the environment immediately apply following notification of the plan on 30 September.

A provision preventing unconsented demolition of pre-1944 buildings applies to parts of Auckland which were settled pre-1944 and where there is a concentration of pre-1944 buildings, including areas such as, Western Springs, Sandringham, New Lynn, Papakura and Northcote, amongst a number of others.

A resource consent may now be required before pre-1944 buildings can be demolished or removed. This is an interim measure to control demolition until heritage surveys have been done in these areas.

The rules do not prohibit demolition of all pre-1944 buildings covered by the provision, but provides an opportunity for Council through the resource consent application process to assess the heritage values of the building and whether demolition is appropriate or not.

The interim rules reflect feedback from communities wanting to protect historic heritage properties in their local area that hadn’t previously been assessed under the old district plans.

Property owners can check whether their property is affected by the new rules by visiting the proposed unitary plan website, www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/unitaryplan or by calling a council planner on 301 0101.

Submissions on the proposed plan are open until 28 February 2014, followed by hearings and appeals prior to the plan becoming operative in a few years’ time.

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