House on Freemans Bay property that sold for over $3 million is being demolished after declared dangerous

The owners who paid $3.1 million for a derelict Freemans Bay villa they hoped to restore are having to demolish it after it was declared unsafe.

The 150-year-old unlivable property on Anglesea St sold for almost double its $1.79m capital valuation in April this year.

Barfoot & Thompson marketing agent Lucia Pereira said at the time the new owners, from Auckland, planned to completely renovate the four-bedroom heritage-protected property before moving in with their family.

The interior of the run-down Freemans Bay property. Photo / Supplied

But Auckland Council declared it dangerous and resource consent was authorised to destroy it. That was supported by Heritage New Zealand.

Consent, without public notification, proceeded on several grounds including the building having deteriorated to such an extent that restoration would be both costly and impracticable and the loss of much of the home's original exterior detail.

Any replacement needed to be in keeping with homes around it, a report by the council said.

The home did not have significant historic heritage, however was included in a special character overlay under the Unitary Plan.

Prior to April, the deceased estate had not been on the market in almost 60 years and it had been used for storage for the past 10 years.

The deceased estate was on the market for the first time in almost 60 years when it sold in April. Photo / Supplied

The property is around the corner from the well-known Paget St cottage demolished in October, after which a large four-bedroom home was built.

An application for a new dwelling on the Anglesea St site has not yet been lodged.