Heritage Cases

It is wished to alter, add and convert the existing servant’s room into a one bedroomed ancillary unit where family member(s) may reside. Such building clearly no longer serves the purpose of which it was originally built. Furthermore, the building cannot be considered to have any architectural, historical or heritage significance or value, as can be seen from the accompanying photographs, as the building is a very basic one roomed structure with an outside water closet. It is constructed of blockwork under a low pitch asbestos roof. A first storey was added to the existing single storey dwelling in 2005 together with a second dwelling. This did not trigger an Amafa application as such building was considerably younger than 60 years at such time. Although it is understood that the size and shape of the original dwelling was maintained, the additions that were constructed in 2005 have resulted in the original dwelling basically being unrecognisable. Consequently, the existing servant’s room now looks completely out of place considering that two modern conventional dwellings exist on the site. (Minor window changes and new awnings etc. have been constructed on the property and included for local authority approval, but has no bearing on this Permit application which relates only to the development of the servant’s room.) The scope of work envisaged in this application concerns the development of the existing outbuilding, which is deemed to be over 60 years of age, by means of removing the asbestos lean-to roof, converting the servant’s room into a kitchen, extending the water closet into a full bathroom, and then adding a living room and bedroom. The walls will be plastered and painted under a tiled gable roof. Despite concerted efforts to obtain the original plans of the property including studying the archive records at Ethekwini Municipality, such plans could not be found. Consequently, for the purpose of this application, the date on the Surveyor’s Diagram of 1952 is taken as the date of construction, although the property may well have been developed at a much more recent date. In 2005, a building plan was submitted to Ethekwini Municipality and formally approved for an additional floor to be added to the original single storey dwelling and for a second dwelling to be constructed. Such work was completed in accordance with such approved plans. In 2009, another building plan was submitted to Ethekwini Municipality and formally approved for an awning structure to be erected on top of the existing garage and for additions to be built onto the small servant’s room. However, neither of these developments actually took place. The area in question contains a varied mixture of styles, designs and materials, with very few of the original buildings still in existence. In fact, a multi dwelling development lies directly behind the applicant’s property. Under the circumstances, the existing servant’s room is not considered to have any architectural, historical or heritage significance and nor is the development considered to have a negative impact on any of the surrounding properties. However, notwithstanding the above, the owner of the property to be developed has sought and obtained the formal consent of the two property owners adjacent to the proposed awning. Such documents are included within this application.