Auckland Council downgrading heritage building schedule
Spokesperson McRae
Auckland Council is standardising its schedule of listed historic buildings across the city which will result in many Devonport buildings and houses losing their A classification.
To be on the A list buildings and houses have to be of "outstanding significance well beyond their immediate environs”.
Only around 10% of all historic buildings in Auckland are expected to make it into this category.
The council maintains that buildings on the B schedule are still fully protected from demolition however ‘minor” changes may be allowed.
Already several buildings in the Victoria Road shopping area have been moved off the A list and downgraded to B’s.
Devonport Heritage has had discussions with the council heritage unit and has argued the case for many other buildings to remain on the A schedule. These include the Esplanade Hotel, the Victoria Theatre, Rockcliife house on King Edward Parade and several Devonport churches.
The Special Character Area overlay remains in place and gives general protection to all pre-1940 era houses and commercial buildings in Devonport.
