Our heritage defines us as a community: who we are and where we have come from. A heritage conservation area is a precinct, streetscape, group of buildings, landscape, suburb or town with particular heritage values that give it a distinct identity. These heritage values can include historical origins, subdivision pattern, and consistency of building materials or the common age of its building stock.
Conservation is based on a respect for the existing building fabric and should involve the least possible change. The starting point for all conservation work is maintenance. If damage has occurred in the past, consider restoring your house's wall finishes, roof finishes, verandahs, fences and gardens.By looking after your heritage home you are contributing to the character of the area. There is also growing evidence to support the view that a heritage listing has a positive impact on property values. The NSW Heritage Office website has a lot of useful information, including its publication Heritage Listing: Benefits for Owners.
If a property is a heritage item or in a conservation area, you can request a heritage listed valuation for land tax and local rate purposes from the Valuer General. Heritage restricted valuations ensure that valuations of property are made on an existing development basis rather than on any presumption of future development. The NSW Department of Lands has further information.
Demolition of a heritage house
Renovations
You are allowed to renovate a heritage-listed building. Randwick City Council recognises that owners need to adapt properties to meet current lifestyles and living standards, such as renovating bathrooms and kitchens, enlarging living areas by opening them up to the rear garden, or providing additional bedrooms. The Council considers many such development applications (DAs) each year. Development application costs include an additional advertising fee to cover the required newspaper advertising and site notices.
If a DA is required, you will need to submit a heritage impact assessment. If you are proposing demolition or major alterations, involvement of a professional will be necessary. For other proposals, a heritage architect can assist in suggesting sympathetic design options. However, many of the DAs which Council currently receives for existing conservation areas do not have such specialist input.
Alterations and additions to heritage items or houses in a conservation area do not necessarily cost more. Materials and detailing for additions do not need to match those of the original part of the building. Nevertheless, quality materials and workmanship will always add value to a property and save money in the long-term.
Council has no intention or statutory power to require owners to restore their house to its original state. If other alterations are being carried out, the Council may encourage owners to consider restoration works as part of the proposal and can provide specialist advice and guidance on such works.
The Council considers that repainting of existing painted surfaces such as timberwork and metalwork is maintenance work and does not require consent from the Council. See wall finishes.
Demolition of heritage houses
Buildings which contribute to the character and significance of a conservation area should generally be retained and sympathetically altered. Demolition of these buildings erodes the heritage value of the conservation area. A demolition application needs to be accompanied by a report from a heritage or conservation architect addressing the heritage significance of the building, its physical condition and investigations of options for retention.
If your house does not contribute to the character and significance of the conservation area, then it may be possible to demolish and replace it with a new dwelling which is sensitive to the surrounding character.