Heritage Homes builds new character homes — villas, bungalows and cottages — across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Kāpiti. The local licensees are Tim and Kerstin Lucas; Tim is a Licensed Building Practitioner and Registered Master Builder who is hands-on with every build.
Wellington asks two questions of a new home that most of the country doesn't ask nearly as hard: how will it handle the wind, and how will it sit on the slope? Both have real answers, and both are better priced before you buy the section.
Where we build in Wellington and the region
Heritage Homes builds character homes across the Wellington region, including:
| Area | Towns and suburbs |
|---|---|
| Wellington city | Thorndon, Mount Victoria, Kelburn, Karori, Northland, Island Bay, Newtown, Hataitai, Miramar, Johnsonville |
| Hutt Valley | Lower Hutt, Petone, Eastbourne, Upper Hutt, Wainuiomata |
| Porirua & north | Porirua, Whitby, Plimmerton, Pukerua Bay |
| Kāpiti Coast | Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Ōtaki, Raumati |
Coverage depends on the licensee network at any given time, so if your site isn't listed, ask — it takes one call to confirm.
Wellington wind zones: what they change on a character build
Wellington sections commonly sit in the High, Very High or Extra High wind zones defined by NZS 3604, and the zone is determined before anything structural is designed — it sets the bracing demand for the whole house.
- Higher zones mean more structure. Bracing, wall and roof framing and fixings all step up as the zone rises.
- Extra High corresponds to 55 m/s. Above that, the house falls outside NZS 3604 and needs specific engineering design.
- Weathertightness detailing changes too. In Extra High wind zones, E2/AS1 detailing calls for a rigid wall underlay with cavity cladding.
For a character home this matters in a specific way: verandahs, bay windows and tall joinery are exposed elements, and they need designing for the zone rather than dropping in from a calmer site. Wellington City Council publishes wind zone data for the city, and your builder or designer confirms the zone for the actual site.
Steep and narrow: why Wellington suits villas
Wellington's older suburbs are full of villas for a structural-history reason that still applies: the villa form was designed for narrow, steep urban sections — compact street frontage, rooms running back, living lifted off the ground. That is exactly the land Wellington has. Thorndon, Mount Victoria, Kelburn, Newtown and Island Bay all show it.
A new character home can use the same logic: a raised floor and a front verandah handle a slope gracefully, where a wide flat-site design has to fight it. The trade-offs between the two styles are in our guide to villa vs bungalow, and the site-cost side is in choosing a section.
Your local team in Wellington
Tim and Kerstin Lucas have held the Heritage Homes Wellington licence since January 2017. Tim is a Licensed Building Practitioner and Registered Master Builder with over a decade in construction, hands-on with every build and running a trusted network of local trades. The team's stated standard is that quality is paramount regardless of project size.
Frequently asked questions
Do you build character homes outside Wellington city?
Yes. Heritage Homes builds across the Wellington region, including Lower Hutt, Petone, Eastbourne, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Whitby, Plimmerton and the Kāpiti Coast towns of Paraparaumu, Waikanae and Ōtaki.
Does Wellington's wind affect building a character home?
Yes, through the wind zone. Wellington sites commonly fall in the High, Very High or Extra High zones under NZS 3604, which sets bracing demand and steps up framing and fixings. Extra High corresponds to 55 m/s, and above that a house needs specific engineering design. Exposed character elements such as verandahs and bay windows are designed for the site's zone.
Can you build a character home on a steep Wellington section?
Often yes — and the villa form is well suited to it, because it was developed for narrow, sloping urban sections in the first place. A raised floor and front verandah sit naturally on a slope. Slope does add foundation, retaining and access cost, so it is worth pricing before you buy.
Which Wellington suburbs have the most character housing?
Thorndon, Mount Victoria, Kelburn, Northland, Newtown, Berhampore and Island Bay carry a lot of Wellington's villa and early-bungalow stock. Several areas also have character or heritage provisions in the district plan, so check the rules for a specific address before planning any build or alteration.
Who is the Heritage Homes builder in Wellington?
Tim and Kerstin Lucas, licensees since January 2017. Tim is a Licensed Building Practitioner and Registered Master Builder with more than ten years in the construction industry.
Talk to us about building in Wellington
Prefer to talk? Call Heritage Homes on 0508 40 30 20 or email sales@hhomes.nz.