Heritage provisions

The Armidale Region contains a rich and diverse range of buildings, sites and elements which illustrate the areas history and characterise many of the regions villages and neighbourhoods. It is important that the heritage of the region is recognised, celebrated and conserved to allow present and future generations to appreciate the rich tapestry of our historic region. 

The Armidale Regional Development Control Plan (DCP) 2024(PDF, 7MB) provides objectives and provisions for the development of buildings with heritage significance, either individually or as part of their street or area via Heritage Conservation Areas. The aims are to: 

• Establish the framework for detailed heritage and conservation planning; and 
• Ensure that development applications for heritage items and works within heritage conservation areas and heritage streetscapes are assessed on the basis of heritage significance and desired heritage outcomes. 

The DCP applies to all works that are proposed on heritage buildings, sites and elements including: 

• Heritage items (including landscape and archaeological items, and building elements) as identified in the State Heritage Register or any applicable Local Environmental Plan (LEP); 
• Buildings and sites within heritage conservation areas and heritage streetscapes as identified in any applicable LEP.

This DCP is based on the underlying principles that: 

• Change should be based on an understanding of heritage significance; and 
• The level of change should respect the heritage significance of the item, building site, streetscape and/or area. 

The intention of the heritage chapter in the DCP is to ensure that decisions about change are made with due regard to heritage significance, and that opportunities to improve the understanding and appreciation of this significance are taken.