The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) has appealed to the Environment Court over a Dunedin City Council resource consent decision to allow the demolition of 372-392 Princes St, and 11 Stafford St, and replacement of the buildings with a development of 15 apartments with space for retailing on the ground floor.
The decision, released in September after two years of hearings, petitions, public meetings and heated opposition, followed Christchurch developer Luke Dirkzwager announcing plans in 2008.
The decision was made despite the area being a protected townscape precinct, and heritage advocates arguing there was no need to demolish any facades.
It followed an interim decision in February that said the consent committee of Crs Colin Weatherall, Richard Walls and Fliss Butcher might grant consent if Mr Dirkzwager's company, Prista Apartments, came up with a new design more representative of the precinct's character.
The response was a new design of facades referencing the originals.
Cr Butcher has since said publicly she had not supported what was a majority decision.
NZHPT Otago Southland area manager Owen Graham yesterday said the buildings were listed in the council's district plan, and the appeal was an attempt to uphold the principles of the plan.
"That's the key component we're most concerned about."
If items were listed in the district plan schedule, what value did that have if consent was then given to demolish them? he asked.
The appeal notice said the council was wrong to conclude the adverse effects on the heritage of Dunedin would be no more than minor if the demolition went ahead.
It wrongly concluded the proposal would not create an undesirable precedent, and did not give sufficient weight to the "significant historic values" of the site.
"The decision challenges the integrity of the district plan."
Elizabeth Kerr, who presented submissions during the resource consent process, said she was keen to become a party to the appeal and reiterated the integrity of the district plan was undermined by the decision.
