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If you have purchased a heritage building and you want to undertake a restoration, an upgrade, or a major renovation, there are some very specific guidelines and regulations that you need to understand before you begin heritage work.
To start with, you must engage a construction team that has extensive experience with this type of work, and if your planned project is going to affect a designated archaeological site, you will need to contact Heritage New Zealand to secure an authorisation.
The conservation and revival of heritage buildings is an important task, and preserving these types of landmarks is a great way to safeguard sites that have historical significance so that future generations can enjoy and understand our rich history.
Here, we will run through some essential things that you will need to know before you start any heritage work on buildings in New Zealand. We will highlight some of the reasons why your property might be heritage-listed and explore the importance of selecting the right team for your project.
In Aotearoa, a heritage building is classified within a number of different frameworks, and historic heritage values may not always be obvious. Criteria for heritage classifications can be made for historic value or physical or social value. Being an owner of a heritage building is a privilege, and you should be excited about any heritage work you are taking on as you will become a part of the history of that property.
While there is an extensive list of reasons why you might have a heritage building on your hands, here are a few that may be applied.
Your property may have architectural features which are notable as a great example of a particular period or craftsmanship style; there could be materials or ornamentation features which should be preserved during heritage work, or there could be methodologies employed in the construction or design which demonstrate leaps in innovation and technology or signify a particular era.
Your building may have been assigned heritage status because it is old in relation to the time that the area where it is located has been occupied, or it may be that up until you took possession, the property has remained largely unmodified and presents a great example of a theme or a pattern in local development.
Historic value can also be attributed to buildings where people, groups or organisations have resided while making a remarkable contribution to the area or on a regional or national scale. It could be that something special occurred at the site of your property, or it may be that it has resonance for political, social, cultural or spiritual reasons – it may even be symbolic on a national level.
Your property should feel like your own, and it should be fit for purpose and function to provide you with the lifestyle you want. If you want to do work on a heritage site there are firm guidelines around when you will need to apply for Resource Consent. This will include construction of new buildings on the same site, relocation or demolition and most modifications, alterations and additions. You will also need to apply for consent from the local council for some earthworks, if you want to subdivide your property or if you want to add signage.
It always pays to have a meeting with your construction team and the relevant council before you start any heritage work, and while there are situations where consents won’t be necessary, you must be very clear before you begin.
You may not need to apply for Resource Consent for interior work if the interior of the building is not listed, however, there are stipulations around new floor-level visibility and structural strengthening. You can repair with like-for-like in most cases without consent, and repairs that adhere to the original look of the property won’t always need consent.
As you can see, it’s a complex area, and doing unconsented heritage work can land you in trouble, so make sure you have a construction team on your side that has extensive specialist experience and relevant knowledge.
The team at QBS understand the unique challenges posed by heritage work, and we are committed to reviving and conserving these properties with an approach that upholds the integrity of New Zealand’s historic landmarks.
We can help you restore original features while adding elevated functionality, and we repair and maintain existing structures while installing new systems and technologies that enhance your day-to-day living without destroying everything beautiful about your heritage property.
Get in touch with the heritage work specialists at QBS Construction today to chat about restoring your property to its former glory in a way that prioritises your needs today.
