Regulatory Hurdles Associated With Heritage Renovations Pt.2.

4 Nov

Part 2: Heritage Overlays and Heritage Listed Buildings

Understanding The Classification of Your Heritage Property

Are you a homeowner considering a heritage renovation but apprehensive about your heritage listed property or potential heritage overlays? In Victoria, both heritage overlays and heritage listings offer protection to significant places, but the key difference lies in the level of significance and the responsible body. It is crucial to understand where your property sits.

Heritage Overlay: Locations holding cultural significance within a community may be safeguarded through the implementation of a heritage overlay, which constitutes an integral component of a local zoning ordinance. Heritage overlays can encompass buildings, sites, landscapes, and even objects. Within a planning scheme, a heritage overlay outlines the need for permits for any modifications that could impact the heritage value. The level of protection offered is typically at a basic level.
Heritage Listed Building: A heritage listed building has a much higher level of protection as it's recognized on the Victorian Heritage Register, managed by Heritage Victoria. These buildings are considered to be of state significance. Stricter guidelines apply, and permits might be required for even minor changes like repainting the exterior!

The Solution

Know your property details and use sources available to you.

Learn About Local Heritage Protection: familiarise yourself with the heritage system in Victoria, including the different roles of local council, Heritage Victoria, and the Heritage Council of Victoria. The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning is a great place to read up: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/guides/all-guides/local-heritage-protection
Use Online Tools: Find out whether a property is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the Victorian Heritage Inventory or is affected by a Heritage Overlay in a local planning scheme by using this government interactive tool: https://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/heritage-listings/is-my-place-heritage-listed
Use A Heritage Architect: Years of experience in heritage renovations will allow for the foresight to plan in accordance to heritage overlays, listings and their regulations. Using a heritage architect means there will be no nasty legislative surprises along the way.

Next Step

If you don’t want to deal with the many heritage regulatory hurdles your project might face, use our Town Planning Strategy & Management services to take the burden off your shoulders. Schedule a personal 15 minute phone consultation with Dean who has more than 10 years of experience transforming heritage properties. This will allow you to go from being uncertain about your project’s heritage restrictions to confident about moving forward and getting the ball rolling on your dream home!

Schedule a chat with Dean