Planning For Your Heritage Project
Renovating a heritage home is an amazing opportunity to bring an old building back to life, turning it into a wonderful new home.
These houses are rich in character, providing a stunning starting point for renovation. However, the same heritage details that make them so special can also present unique challenges. Planning for your heritage project does come with its own set of considerations and planning requirements.
Know what you are working with:
There are a wide range of heritage styles across Victoria each one, an important part of our built history.
In Victoria, Victorian Planning Zones and Overlays govern how land and buildings are used and developed. These provide protection and guidance to ensure that the unique features, history, and natural environment of specific areas are respected.
The Heritage Overlay is designed to protect buildings and places that hold historical, cultural, or architectural significance. If your property falls under a Heritage Overlay, any proposed changes will need to respect the historical integrity of the building. The overlay and any specific heritage schedules will guide how your design balances the preservation of original features with modern design interventions.
The impact on your design process:
An architect or designer who is experience in heritage projects will start your project with an understanding of the restrictions in place by the Heritage Overlay. This will ensure that from the outset your project works to a realistic and respectful design scheme.
Heritage renovations require additional time allocated to the planning application and approval process. This will require a comprehensive response to the planning restrictions. Your application will need to clearly demonstrate how the renovation will respect the home’s original features. In some cases, after the application has been lodged, the council may request changes to your plans to ensure compliance with heritage requirements.
To help ease the process, consider arranging a pre-application meeting with a planning officer. This allows you to receive feedback and identify potential issues with the application prior to submission.
Working within heritage guidelines:
Heritage projects will include an element of preservation and restoration. Features such as ornate plasterwork, period fireplaces, windows, or rooflines may need to be preserved or restored authentically. These often require specific materials and specialised contractors to match the original construction as closely as possible.
Identifying heritage elements that are to be retained early in the process, allows them to be thoughtfully incorporated into the design. Incorporating modern amenities, construction standards and updating building performance without compromising the historic character of a building, is a challenge we greatly enjoy. This process, though detailed, gives a new life to a home with history and character.
Where to start:
At Maike Design, we love creating comfortable, functional and beautiful new homes from a heritage foundation. With a deep appreciation for architectural history and a thoughtful approach to your individual goals, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with renovating a heritage home. We work closely with all our clients to ensure that they can confidently work through the design and approval process.
If you would like to chat about planning your heritage project, we would love to hear from you.