Certainty for Hayes Paddock

Today at an extraordinary meeting of the City Development Committee in a unanimous
decision identified Hayes Paddock as a heritage precinct overlay in the District Plan for
the city.

The decision will go to the full Council meeting (13 August) for ratifying.
Committee chairman Glenda Saunders says the discussion over Hayes Paddock has
been well aired through a robust process and the committee’s decision now brings
certainty to residents, developers and those with a strong interest in heritage matters in
the city.
“When Council raised the matter of identifying Hayes Paddock as having special
character 45 submissions raising 203 points were received. In the second stage of the
process a total of 419 further submission points were registered. A number of the
submissions requested the area be specifically recognised as a heritage precinct.
“Hayes Paddock has also been identified as a heritage precinct in recognition of its
national significance. The precinct does not restrict development from happening but
rather it requires that new development within Hayes Paddock is compatible with and
enhances the special heritage characteristics of the area.
“Through considerable community consultation Council has already developed
CityScope (the city’s urban design strategy) and the Creativity and Identity Strategy
along with Vista (the city’s urban design guide). These documents establish a city
position which means that ‘areas of special character are recognised and given a lasting
future’ (C&I), ‘…to develop plans, actions and strategies for protection and
redevelopment of Hamilton’s urban heritage’ (CityScope), ‘development should
respond to local context – natural and built – and special character precincts’ (Vista).
“The decision reflects the increased importance given to heritage values both locally
and nationally in the 2003 amendment to the Resource Management Act.”
Council’s intent is to ensure that new development within Hayes Paddock is compatible
in terms of scale, form and design with the precinct’s heritage characteristics. This
relates to aspects of subdivision, maintaining the low intensity residential character of
the area and ensuring that the design of new buildings and structures is sensitive to the
original dwellings. It will be important that new development compliments the
characteristic front yard setbacks to enable the open aspect of the streetscene to be
retained.

Wherever possible Council will seek to ensure the original dwellings and commercial
buildings are retained.
The original design concept for Hayes Paddock is of a subdivision and dwellings
planned according to the philosophies and ideals of the first Labour Government and
Garden City Movement. This included curved street patterns, open plan garden layouts,
low density development, and the provision of walkways and reserves. The original
design concept sought to provide variety in building design, with the arrangement and
siting of dwellings around a well planned road and pedestrian network. The area still
displays a strong sense of architectural unity and residential character. The District Plan
provides for the continuation of this concept while allowing for the adaptation of the
existing properties for modern needs.