Heritage and character

The Planning and Design Code has improved heritage and character protection as follows:

• All State Heritage, Local Heritage and Representative Buildings are now accurately mapped across the state (previously only state and local heritage was fully mapped)
• Demolition controls now apply to all State Heritage places/areas, Local Heritage places and historic areas, and the Representative Buildings within these areas
• The Minister for Heritage now has greater powers to direct decisions on development applications to  protect heritage (previously the Minister could only make a recommendation)
• Guidelines and Statements of Significance have now been implemented for State Heritage Areas/Places such as Colonel Light Gardens and Hahndorf
• Historic and Character Area Statements that clearly outline what needs to be protected in these areas have now been implemented
• Heritage Adjacency policy has been implemented in the Planning and Design Code that reduces the impact of development on land next to heritage places
• Demolition control is now fair and equitable across the state (previously it varied significantly between councils)
• Demolition controls now reflect the level of heritage protection required, with stronger controls for State Heritage and Local Heritage places.

The Heritage Places Act 1993 provides a listing process for heritage that is judged to be of State significance. There are over 2,300 State Heritage Places and 17 State Heritage Areas in the State, and these are established in the State Heritage Register.

All State Heritage is identified in the Planning and Design Code via the State Heritage Places Overlay and/or the State Heritage Area Overlay.

The Overlays provide:

• Demolition control, having consideration to:
  • the building’s existing heritage values
  • the structural condition of the building and risk to safety.
• Include reference to Statements of Significance and Heritage Standards, which form the basis of Heritage South Australia’s assessment of referred development proposals.
• Provides the Minister responsible for the Heritage Places Act 1993 with authority to direct decisions on development applications that affect a State Heritage Place/Area.

Importantly, State Heritage areas and places have the same level of protection as under the previous planning system.

Local Heritage Places are structures, buildings or places that demonstrate important local historical attributes or contribute to the historical themes of a local area.

Listing of Local Heritage Places is undertaken via a Planning and Design Code Amendment process, and is based on an assessment against specific criteria set out in the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (the PDI Act).

Currently there are more than 7,000 Local Heritage Places listed across the State.

Local Heritage Places are contained in the Local Heritage Place Overlay and listed in Part 11 of the Planning and Design Code. The Overlay provides:

• Demolition control, having consideration to:
  • the building’s existing heritage values
  • the structural condition of the building and risk to safety.

Importantly, Local Heritage areas and places have the same level of protection as under the previous planning system.

The Historic Area Overlay in the Planning and Design Code protects places that contribute to the historic value of neighbourhoods and includes Historic Area Statements which set out the historic attributes of importance in an area and which should be protected or complemented.

The Overlay provides:

• Demolition control, having consideration to:
  • the building’s historic characteristics and ability to reasonably restore in a manner consistent with the  building’s original style
  • the structural integrity/condition and the ability to reasonably restore the building.

The following non-statutory guidelines are available to assist applicants and assessment authorities in the interpretation of policy in this Overlay:

• Historic Area Overlay Design Advisory Guideline (PDF, 1034 KB)
• Style Identification Advisory Guideline (PDF, 3134 KB)

The Character Area Overlay in the Planning and Design Code seeks to protect character streetscapes and includes Character Area Statements which set out the characteristics of importance in an area and what should be protected and complemented by new development.

The following non-statutory guidelines are available to assist applicants and assessment authorities in the interpretation of policy in this Overlay:

• Character Area Overlay Design Advisory Guideline (PDF, 1028 KB)
• Style Identification Advisory Guideline (PDF, 3134 KB)

Representative Buildings (formerly known as Contributory Items) are referenced in Historic Area and Character Area Statements and are mapped in the South Australian Planning and Property Atlas.

Representative Buildings display characteristics of importance in a particular area; however, their identification is not intended to imply that other buildings in a Historic or Character Area are not of importance.

Representative Buildings located within the Historic Area Overlay do have demolition control, whilst Representative Buildings located within the Character Area Overlay do not have demolition control.

The Code offers the same levels of protection for Representative Buildings as the previous planning system offered for Contributory Items.

• Protecting Heritage and Character - Policies in the Planning and Design Code (PDF, 13495 KB)
• Historic Area Overlay Design Advisory Guideline (PDF, 1034 KB)
• Character Area Overlay Design Advisory Guideline (PDF, 1028 KB)
• Style Identification Advisory Guideline (PDF, 3134 KB)