Heritage and development

In recognition and protection of heritage places, the Maitland Local Environment Plan (2011) provides a list of over 200 heritage items and six conservation areas. Places of state heritage significance are also listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

What could this mean for my development?

Legislative requirements and listings of heritage items can be found under the Maitland Local Environment Plan (2011) Schedule 5 Environmental Heritage.

The Development Control Plan (DCP) also contains detailed policy for the management of heritage items and heritage conservation areas in Maitland.

Renovating or maintaining a heritage house?

When undertaking heritage work the expertise and skills of an experienced tradesperson can be vital to a good investment. If you're not sure where to start, accessing the Heritage Trades Directory could set you on your way. Also, the Maitland Local Heritage Fund offers annual dollar for dollar grants to assist in the conservation of heritage buildings and places in Maitland.

We have also developed the Residential Colour Scheme Guidelines also provide an introduction to choosing appropriate heritage colour schemes.

Minor Works on Heritage Listed Properties or sites within a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA)

In most circumstances, development consent is required for works to a heritage item or to a property located in a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA). However, certain small scale and low impact works can be undertaken without development consent, as permitted under Clause 5.10(3)(a)(i) and (ii) of the Maitland Local Environmental Plan 2011 (MLEP 2011).

If you are proposing to carry out minor works to a heritage item or to a building, work, relic, tree or place in a HCA, and the works are considered by Maitland City Council to be of a minor nature or for the maintenance of the property, development consent may not be required. However, Council must be notified of the proposed works, and you must obtain a written response from Council advising that development consent is not required, before commencing any works.

For this purpose, a completed Minor Works Application, along with the required supporting documentation, should be submitted to Council via [email protected].

Further details relating to this notification can be found in the application template.