The Environment Court has issued a decision which is very damaging for the future of our Special Character Areas (SCA’s). It gave consent to the total demolition of a 1920’s bungalow, in original condition, at 22 Crescent Road, Epsom, in the heart of the Maungakiekie SCA, and its replacement with a new house. This creates a precedent that can be used by others wishing to demolish original houses in Special Character Areas.

The Maungakiekie SCA ranks highly in the Council’s recent re-survey of SCA’s, and the house itself scores 6/6 on the Council’s scale in that survey.

The application to the Environment Court was opposed by a group of 18 local residents, by Heritage NZ and by Character Coalition. Comprehensive expert evidence opposing the demolition was given by two heritage architects, Robin Byron from Heritage NZ and William Howse from Council’s Heritage Unit. However, despite this compelling evidence the Court chose instead to accept evidence from the Applicant’s witnesses who supported the demolition.

 The Court’s decision is a long one but in essence could be summarised as:

 1. buildings and built heritage are of little, if any, importance in SCA’s ; and

 2. all applications to demolish buildings in SCA’s should be non-notified.

 Our concerns

Our primary concern is the precedent effect of this decision. Council will take it as a green light to deal with all future applications to demolish houses in SCA’s on a non-notified basis and grant them. The first that people in a SCA will know of it is when the wreckers arrive and demolition begins. The eventual result will be the destruction of our SCA’s from ‘death by a thousand cuts.’

Character Coalition’s Appeal

The High Court will hear Character Coalition's appeal against the Environment Court’sdecision to allow the demolition of this1920’sbungalow in a high-value Special Character Area in March 2025.

The outcome of the appeal will not just affect this property, but the future of all properties in Special Character Areas, and we are hopeful that this unfortunate precedent set by this decision will not stand.

We do need more funding for this appeal which is of vital importance for the future of all Auckland’s Special Character Areas. If your group or members are able to contribute, please do so either through the Givealittle page or direct to our bank account Character Coalition 38- 9018-0149322-00. Character Coalition is now a registered Charity, CC62974 – for a tax-deductible receipt for direct donations, please webmail us here with the word “receipt” in the subject line.