Heritage buildings

Types of heritage buildings, items and areas

Category A: Buildings, items and areas of great cultural heritage value.
Category B: Buildings, items and areas of considerable heritage value.
Category C: Buildings, items and areas of some heritage value.

Retention of heritage values is encouraged through eligibility for contestable funding from the Council’s Built, Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection Fund. 

How do we determine the heritage significance of a building, item or area?

The criteria used to determine the heritage value of a building, item, or area, are:

• Historical – is it important in the history of the New Plymouth District?
• Importance to the Community – is it an important physical landmark to the community?
• Aesthetic Appeal – does it conform to a past or present sense of beauty?
• Rarity – is it rare or unique in the New Plymouth District?
• Architecture and Use – does it have architectural merit or belong to an important architectural period or time?
• Technical – is it technically accomplished or of a high quality of building materials, methods or craft skills?
• Setting – does the setting of the place add to its cultural heritage value?
• Context – does it form part of a wider historical and cultural complex or landscape?
• Cultural heritage value for present and future generations – does it have value for present and future generations?

District Plan rules

Only category A buildings, items and areas are subject to heritage related rules in the New Plymouth District Plan.  Category B’s and C’s are not regulated.

The exterior of all category A buildings and items is protected. Work to the same design and using similar materials is permitted. Work that is not in character will require resource consent. 

Demolition or removal, and subdivision of land with a category A building or item on it will require resource consent.

A specific rule applies to the erection of buildings on the same site as the following buildings:

• 37A Cameron Street, New Plymouth
• 84, 90, 94, 98 and 102 Pendarves Street, New Plymouth.

Specific parts of the interiors of these buildings are protected:

• Hurworth Cottage, 906 Carrington Road, New Plymouth
• New Plymouth Opera House (TSB Showplace), 94-96 Devon St West, New Plymouth
• Plas Mawr, 26 Standish Street, New Plymouth
• Pridham Hall, 103 Eliot Sreett, New Plymouth
• St Mary’s Church, 37 Vivian Street, New Plymouth
• The Camp House, Egmont Road, Inglewood
• The Gables, Brooklands Park Drive, New Plymouth
• White Hart Hotel, 124 Devon St West, New Plymouth

You should consult with a Council planner if you intend to carry out work on a category A building, item or area.

Appendix 8: Heritage buildings and items 

Note:

• When a consent is required for an activity, there is no guarantee that consent will be granted.  This is at the discretion of the Council
• In addition to these planning requirements, there may also be requirements under the Building Act or other legislation
• This is a summary of the rules.  For detailed information, refer to the New Plymouth District Plan or contact please contact us.