Heritage conservation areas

The current Heritage Conservation Areas in Armidale have been identified as having local heritage significance and have been included in Council’s Local Environmental Plans since 1993. They include a substantial number of places of heritage significance. By identifying whole areas it is possible to protect the setting of these places and the streetscapes in which they are located. Not all buildings in a heritage conservation area will necessarily have heritage significance, however they do contribute to the overall character of the area and additional development controls usually apply to these properties in order to protect that character.

The Armidale Regional Local Environmental Plan 2012 (LEP) identifies four ‘Heritage Conservation Areas’. These areas comprise most of the Armidale Central Business District (CBD), the established residential area on South Hill, The Armidale School, O’Connor Catholic College and the Armidale Showground.

What do I have to do if I own property in a heritage conservation area

The Armidale Regional Local Environmental Plan 2012 requires owners/developers of properties in Heritage Conservation Areas, and those that are individually listed as heritage Items, to consult with Council before carrying out the following types of work:

any proposed new development, excavation or subdivision;
any external alterations or additions (including solar panels, fences, and changes to external finishes);
any structural alterations to the interior of a heritage item;
any signage;
total or partial demolition or dismantling, defacement, removal/moving of a heritage item or of a building, work, tree, relic or place in a Heritage Conservation Area;
disturbing or excavating a place of Aboriginal heritage significance or an archaeological site while knowing, or having reasonable cause to suspect, that the disturbance or excavation will or is likely to result in a relic being discovered, exposed, moved, damaged or destroyed.