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Devonport Heritage says the community is anxious about whether new planning rules can stop moves to turn old villas into mansions.
Chairwoman Trish Deans said that nearly a year ago a 1910 house in one of the suburb's premium streets adjoining Cheltenham Beach was substantially demolished in the course of additions and alterations.
The public got to hear about it during the North Shore Heritage Week celebrations and were angered by North Shore City Council's excuses for allowing the 50 per cent demolition to happen.
The council had now changed District Plan rules so consent applications do not allow more than 30 per cent of a heritage building to be demolished.
But Ms Deans said yesterday that the plan change had to be backed up by stronger council procedures.
"Applicants who buy a villa but really want a mansion are going to push all the loopholes.
"People with a lot of money want their three-car garage and want to modify everything and live in a heritage suburb too ... they don't see the conflict in that."
Ms Deans said the concern was that the council "if they are challenged by an applicant tend to fold and will do a deal."
The council environmental services department had also failed to address heritage issues with care in 2004 when there was a similar situation with a Jubilee Ave alteration.
It was a wonderful building that had featured in the council's heritage handbook.
Devonport Heritage and the community board continued to press the council for tighter procedures.
"We've been told this has been done but we are not convinced," said Ms Deans.
She had urged the council to explain changes at a public meeting.
However, environmental services general manager Alison Geddes arranged a two-hour workshop with heritage representatives last month. She said because it was a complex issue it would be more productive to clarify existing processes in a working session.
Ms Deans said: "They ducked for cover on that ... You could have easily got 150 people along to a public meeting."
Devonport resident and city councillor Dianne Hale said council officers were trying to close loopholes in planning rules and procedures.
They had changed the status of alterations and additions to limited discretionary activities which allowed the council to refuse consent.
"Some people want to reinstate the appearance of their houses and a lot of people want houses to be more liveable so they do alterations."
