Mt Victoria residents are already experiencing the impact of new planning rules allowing higher buildings in the suburb, with neighbours angry at the lack of consultation around a potential development they call inappropriate.

A 30-unit apartment block could be constructed at the end of a narrow driveway in Mt Victoria, as the result of changes to the District Plan – but local residents are furious with the lack of consultation and the potential impact on their private road.

Owners of historic home The Westbourne were granted permission to knock it down on the basis they would take out a covenant promising the replacement would fit with the character of the surrounding area and be less than 3 storeys high.

However, the Wellington City Council says that promise is worth nothing since RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop signed off amendments to the new District Plan that are much more permissive.

The developer says he is talking to neighbours, and is planning a high quality development, but local residents say they are looking at their legal options.

The large property at the end of Westbourne Grove, formally known as 43 Austin Street, is being touted by commercial real estate agents as having the potential to house 30 ‘high end’ apartments or 18 ‘large executive’ townhouses.

In a surprise twist, the historic home is back on the market despite the developers successfully obtaining a resource consent to demolish it.

The Wellington City Council granted permission to demolish the 140-year-old house under old District Plan rules, which meant the owner had to first put in place a covenant that would restrict any new development to 11 metres in height.

However, the site lost its character protection when the new District Plan was recently agreed, and is now zoned for high density development, which means demolition can go ahead without a resource consent and buildings of 22-metre (six-storey) heights are allowed without a resource consent having to be notified.

Commercial real estate agents CBRE is advertising the site as having ‘unencumbered access’ for construction, however other property owners along Westbourne Grove say the access is a private road that is only half owned by 43 Austin Street, with the other half owned by the four property owners along it.

The road was built to withstand light vehicles, not heavy demolition trucks which are likely to damage it.

One of the residents, Ralph Highnam, says local home owners are banding together to engage legal assistance to stop ‘inappropriate’ development.

“The first demolition truck that appears on that road we will be looking to use all legal means to stop it, because it will be potentially damaging the road, and threatening the health and safety of those on the road and we don’t want that.”

Developer Mark Quinn says his firm Forma is working with architects on a ‘high-end’ multi-unit residential design, which will ‘work to the new density standards recently introduced by the council and signed off by Housing Minister Chris Bishop.’

“We plan to recycle and reuse parts of the original Westbourne house, for a sustainable development.

“The development, once finished, will offer fantastic, elegant housing for professionals and families to live in one of our city’s most sought after suburbs.”

Highnam says residents are not opposed to a new development but don’t want a massive increase in cars going up and down their road – the prospect if 30 car parks are built along with 30 new apartments: “What kind of green development is that?”

They were also upset that the current developer appeared to be only doing ‘what he had to’ in terms of engaging with the neighbours.

“We want to see a responsible development that is respectful of neighbours, that talks with neighbours…and we’re not seeing that at the moment.”

Quinn says his developers would do their best to minimise the impacts of the construction on the neighbours. 

 “We have met with the neighbours to hear their concerns and we will continue to communicate with them during the construction phase.

 “We have personally asked all the neighbours for a direct line of communication, so I can address their concerns individually, and I hope that they will take that up.”

Regarding the fact the property is being advertised for sale, Quinn said he intended to develop the site in due course, however he had to ‘keep an open mind’ to all options.

He said he had received approaches to purchase the property from the residents of Westbourne Grove and others.

Highnam says the residents hoped a new buyer would come forward to restore the old house. 

“But assuming that’s not going to happen, then we’d like to see a respectful, green, environmental development that fits with the character of the local area, requires few extra cars, and fits more families in up there - that would probably get our support and the neighbours’ support.”