New practice guideline for historic areas

The State Planning Commission has published a new Practice Guideline 3 (Historic Area Overlay). Practice Guideline 3 clarifies the use and application of policies and historic area statements within the Historic Area Overlay of the Planning and Design Code including:

• what should be considered when assessing the whole or partial demolition of a building within this overlay
• the role of Representative Buildings in demonstrating the type of character sought for the area.

The impetus for this new practice guideline stems from Recommendation 32 of the Expert Panel’s 2023 Planning System Implementation Review which called for a review and clarification of the role of Representative Buildings. The state government, in its response to the Expert Panel’s recommendation, confirmed that Representative Buildings are a contentious aspect of the planning system and should not be mistaken for a 'third tier’ of heritage protection. The government suggested that the State Planning Commission prepare a practice guideline to reinforce this.

The new Practice Guideline 3 clarifies that the role of Representative Buildings is to assist in demonstrating the characteristics sought to be retained in the area.

It further clarifies that a Representative Building can’t be assumed to always display those characteristics, and as such require assessment on a case-by-case basis, similar to any other building proposed to be demolished within an Historic Area Overlay.

The new practice guideline is now operational and can be viewed on the PlanSA website.

Should you require further information about the new practice guideline, please do not hesitate to contact PlanSA via email at plansa@sa.gov.au or on 1800 752 664.