City character rules may force costs up

New planning rules proposed by Wellington City Council would require owners of older homes in Newtown, Berhampore and Mt Cook to obtain a resource consent to do the work, potentially delaying projects and adding thousands of dollars in costs.

Demolition or modification of these buildings is currently a permitted activity which can be done without resource consent hurdles.

The proposed district plan changes, announced at a council meeting yesterday, were unanimously approved and will now go out for public submissions.

They are designed to protect the unique residential character of the three suburbs and follow a period of public consultation which signalled a desire for more protection of the city's heritage buildings.

Similar restrictions already apply in Thorndon and Mt Victoria.

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