This Overlay applies to areas with distinct historic character contributed by the buildings, spaces or general street pattern. Future development applications are assessed against the policies within the Historic Area Overlay to ensure the integrity and character of the area is not compromised through uncontrolled demolition and unsympathetic development.

The Overlay policies seek to ensure development proposals are consistent with the historic characteristics within the Historic Area as expressed in the Historic Area Statement (e.g. coherent patterns of land division, site configuration, streetscapes, building siting and built scale, form and features).

Each area within this Overlay has a unique Historic Area Statement which identifies the attributes specific to that historic area.

The Historic Area Statement is referred to during the development assessment process to assist in determining whether the proposed development is consistent with the historic character attributes and desired outcomes for the area.

Each Historic Area Statement is presented on the standardised table template developed and required by Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS) and include the following elements (provided in Column 1):

• Eras, themes and context
• Allotments, subdivision and built form patterns (standard paragraphs are repeated, text is arranged by streets)
• Architectural styles, detailing and built form features (standard paragraphs are repeated, text is arranged by streets)
• Building height
• Materials (standard paragraphs are repeated)
• Fencing (standard paragraphs are repeated)
• Setting, landscaping, streetscape and public realm features
• Representative Buildings.

The current statement is provided in Column 2 and the proposed draft statement is provided in Column 3.

Diagrams have been included to assist with interpretation of the Statements and are provisional on PLUS/State Planning Commission agreement.

The draft Code Amendment will amend the content of 14 existing Historic Area Statements by including additional contextual information about the existing important historical elements of the area and introduce Representative Buildings.

There is no fundamental change to policy in the Planning and Design Code. Rather the Code Amendment helps describe and define attributes of historic character by revising the content of the Historic Area Statements. The Historic Area Statements are an existing part of the Historic Area Overlay that are referred to by relevant Code policy to clarify what is important and worth conserving in each Historic Area.

Individual buildings in the Historic Area Overlay can be designated as Representative Buildings if they display characteristics of importance in a particular area.

Nominating Representative Buildings informs affected parties that there is value in retaining and conserving the original building as one of the buildings that collectively represent the significant historic character of a Historic Area.

No. A Representative Building is not a State or Local Heritage Place. South Australian legislation distinguishes between Heritage Places of value to retain based on their individual merits (in isolation from buildings on other sites) and other buildings (which may be Representative Buildings) which collectively contribute to the historic character of a defined Historic Area.

Refer to State Government guideline document ‘Protecting Heritage and Character - Policies in the Planning and Design Code’.

City of Adelaide is investigating the inclusion of Representative Buildings for funding under the Heritage Incentive (HIS) Program.

For many years, there have been grants for conservation work on both State Heritage and Local Heritage Places. Some time ago this was extended to include work on other historic buildings of value if certain eligibility can be met. Buildings proposed to be included as Representative Buildings may be eligible for grants under existing and/or refined criteria.

For further information on how to apply for a grant, visit https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/about-council/grants-sponsorship-incentives/heritage-incentives-scheme-his/ or contact the City of Adelaide’s heritage team by phone on 8203 7185 or by email to [email protected]

City of Adelaide welcomes your feedback and any supporting documentation on the proposed nomination of Representative Buildings.

Demolition control applies to all buildings in the Historic Area Overlay, regardless of whether the building is identified as a Representative Building.

Demolition within Historic Areas is assessed against the building’s historic characteristics and whether the proposal is reasonable. An application for total demolition considers factors like the structural integrity/ safe condition of the original building and whether it is beyond reasonable repair, or if the front elevation has been substantially altered and cannot be restored in a manner consistent with the building’s original style.

An application for total demolition will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, noting Representative Buildings typically display characteristics that are worth retaining and conserving.

The draft Code Amendment proposes a total of 54 Representative Buildings across identified historic areas.

This is outside the scope of the Historic Area Statement Update Code Amendment.

The changes proposed in the Code Amendment will have the following consequences within the existing Historic Areas only (see Map 1):

1. Better definition of the significant attributes of historic character including the eras, themes, styles, patterns and detailing of historically significant development in each of the 14 Historic Areas will improve the clarity, certainty and efficiency of decisions on development proposals in these Areas

2. Development applicants and others will be able to check if a particular building is a Representative Building signifying value in its retention along with a group of other – often similar - buildings within the relevant Historic Area.

Generally, not unless the business relies on a future significant change to a building such as demolition (noting that demolition is controlled now in the Historic Area). Existing businesses are likely to have existing use rights based on an existing lawfully approved use or a history of continuous use that pre-dates planning controls.