Financial help for character home owners could be available

31 July 2006

Owners of character homes within Christchurch City or Banks Peninsula may qualify for funds to help towards external upgrading and maintenance.

We all love looking at and admiring character houses but anyone who lives in a character home is aware that while it may look like a dream come true, looking after one can be a real challenge.   

Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are well known, country wide, for their wonderful heritage and character buildings and it is important  that this character is preserved.

“The noticeable loss of older character residences in the city and the irreversible loss to local streetscapes and neighbourhoods is of concern to the Council,” said Planner Katie Smith.

“The Council has decided to help character home owners whose homes give their communities identity and charm by providing grants to help keep these old homes beautiful for everyone to see and enjoy into the future.”

Character home grants are intended to provide a small financial contribution towards the external upgrading or maintenance of family homes.  Homes do need to fit a number of criteria.

Character home owners who think their homes might qualify can get information leaflets and application forms for grants from local libraries or service centres, at the Civic Offices and on the Council's web site at: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/christchurch/heritage/

• All applications for grants to be allocated in the 2006/2007 financial year need to be received no later than 1st October 2006.
• Character homes need to still be in residential use and built before 1945.

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