Development within heritage controls

Finding scope for development within heritage controls
Your dream home consists of a hollowed out Federation shell jam packed with the latest innovations and finishes. You have done the research and know everything will fit perfectly and complement your envisaged aesthetic as dank interiors are extended and modernised. Then a letter arrives and all the blood drains from your extremities, that heritage title meant more than you could have possibly imagined.

Stories like the one above echo consistently around the country as homeowners plan to renovate their heritage-listed properties. Often the main concerns are the range of refurbishment options available to the budding renovator and the most effective means of drastically improving a home’s appearance and function without exceeding council guidelines. Generally, as with nearly all dealings with the council, the solution is compromise. There are outcomes that will satisfy both parties if the homeowner is thoroughly prepared and flexible.

Begin with realistic expectations
With a wealth of information available online, one of the first places to begin planning your refurbishment is the humble home computer. Many problems that arise regularly onsite are avoidable with a greater understanding of heritage controls. It is vital to keep your proposal within the bounds of the possible no matter how tempting it may be to visualise a semi-Victorian minimalist masterpiece. Stay abreast of developments and plan accordingly. You may only be able to select from a handful of colours for painting exterior walls for instance.

The façade is key
Widely observed as a rule, an extension viewable from the street should not exceed or detract from a home’s original character. This often translates to a restriction on the height and width of additional floors and explains why many heritage homes extend from the rear with a casual blend of the old and new inside. Fortunately, most modern home transformations focus on seamlessly linked open plan living and dining areas that flow outdoors through bi-folds or stackable sliding doors and this is easily achievable at the rear.

Prepare to argue your case
Although the horror stories of local council intervention in building and development projects receive the lion share of public attention, it is important to keep their role in your project in perspective. Commonly receiving hundreds of applications a year for developments, councils are generally accommodating and often assist applicants in finding solutions suitable for both parties. Plan and involve the council in the development process from the start thereby eliminating any contentious issues as they arise and streamlining your project from inception to completion.

Maintain significance
When completed skilfully and tastefully, contemporary updates of a charming heritage property can add substantial value while preserving its principle characteristics as a relevant and functional home, attributes its creators certainly intended and would be amazed to see continue through so many generations.

More News
Back to this Issue