Looking at it now, one can’t argue that they see a lovely home, proudly perched on top of Auckland’s Hobson Bay cliff line. But those who took on the complex task of renewing and revitalizing this once derelict two level cottage will tell you that the restoration process was a small nightmare. Six resource consents were necessary to complete the project, including consent for the house, earthworks, palisade walls, and consent for the two lot subdivision. “When one takes on an extensive renovation and refurbishment in an area closely controlled by council politics and red tape, there will be building delays, bureaucratic headaches, and scuffles with neighbours,” said Hamish Firth, Principal, Mt Hobson Group. Firth handled the site’s building and resource consents from start to finish. Since all of the rules that govern the refurbishment of a Residential 1 Heritage Home are not absolute, they are subject to interpretation, and an inexperienced council planner can quickly turn a build into a nightmare that doesn’t seem to end. In this case, according to Firth, “In the beginning, the council planner was inexperienced and not adept at managing and balancing the various requirements. The council allowed a junior planner to run the show. It was a huge project and someone that has no experience in dealing with complex restorations was calling the shots. The planning process finally came right when the council put a pragmatic senior staff member in charge of the process.” The home is located in Auckland’s Residential 1 Heritage Zone and in a coastal management area. The site where it sits is subject to instability and there was a significant volume of earthworks and retaining. Retaining was to be located in close proximity to a large Watercare pipe that carries Auckland’s waste water. These factors required detailed engineering in order to ensure that the foundations and retaining did not affect he important infrastructure. “Watercare were very pragmatic about the proposal, advising of the requirements in a clear and concise way,” comment Firth. Restoration and re-invention on heritage homes is no small task. Adding modern day facilities while maintaining the period style brings tough design challenges. “The architect needs to be complimented because it positively reflects heritage values while giving the owner a modern standard of living,” said Firth. This home, once a neglected eyesore, has become a positive addition to the neighbourhood. In spite of red tape and development restrictions, with the proper team in place, homeowners and property investors can navigate the bureaucracy and breathe life into Auckland’s older structures that are just waiting to be developed.