A PROPOSAL to construct 38 residential units in Havannah Street has been given the green light by Bathurst Regional Council.
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Under the plans submitted by Housing Plus, existing dwellings on the site will be demolished to make room for the units.
There were requests from heritage groups to retain the dwelling, which was built in 1881, but it was deemed too dilapidated to save.
Councillor Monica Morse said that, in most circumstances, she was against demolition by neglect, but she could understand the reason behind it in this case.
"When you actually look at the documents and the detail of the damage done to that house and the state it's in, it's probably being really sensible," she said.
Housing Plus has previously stated that it would save the bricks from the heritage building and incorporate them into the development.
Council has also set out the condition that demolition is undertaken in a manner whereby the brickworks can be salvaged, with those materials to be stored in a safe and secure location.
Prior to demolish, a photographic record of the dwelling also needs to be completed and submitted to council.
Councillors also added an additional point to the conditions laid out by council, requesting that a pedestrian refuge be constructed on Havannah Street, subject to agreement from the traffic committee.
This was in response to concerns raised by the Bathurst Regional Access Committee, which feared elderly residents of the development would struggle to cross the busy street.
"Across the road from this development, there is a very good footpath that goes right up to the traffic lights," Cr Morse said.
"If the traffic committee can look at councillor [John] Fry's proposal to get older, wobbly people across the road to this footpath, I think it would serve the purpose very well."
If a refuge is able to be constructed, it would be at the developer's cost.
