The plan targets buildings constructed before 1980, with Marshall saying that so-called D-grade building stock in the city has a vacancy rate of almost 21 per cent – the highest recorded level in Adelaide.

He said Building Code provisions were a barrier to the adaptive reuse of older and heritage buildings, because they were designed with new buildings in mind.

“Owners of heritage buildings have consistently cited this red tape as making their projects unviable,” Marshall said.

“While a heritage building is attractive, it is ultimately wasted if the building is empty or under-utilised. Our heritage assets must be more than empty shells – they need to be accessible places that are enjoyed and given a second life through adaptive and sympathetic upgrading.”

He promised to draft legislation to give the Minister for Planning the ability to override the Building Code via a “ministerial specification”.

The issue has been a thorny one for regulators in Adelaide for years.

InDaily has reported extensively on the Government’s attempts to grapple with Adelaide’s poorly maintained older building stock.

Last year, Planning Minister John Rau told us that he wanted to encourage property owners to spend money to bring their crumbling buildings into the 21^st century.

“I’m looking at what options we have to make it unattractive to leave buildings in that condition,” Rau said.

Building owners at the time said the red tape involved in bringing the buildings up to code was a major barrier.

Marshall, who released today’s policy days after producing his mostly policy-free election manifesto, said his changes would make redevelopment of older buildings quicker and cheaper.

“Rather than just sitting empty, dilapidated and underutilised, we want to see those buildings come alive again – whether that be for hospitality, residential or office purposes,” he said.

“We have some great examples of adaptive reuse in the city, including Electra House and 2 King William Street and we want to see more.”

Lord Mayor Martin Haese supported Marshall’s plan, appearing beside him at a press conference in the city today.

“We are always open to any good outcome for the city – we will work with any [party],” he said.

“We need to find ways of unlocking our heritage buildings.

“The Building Code has been an impediment in some respects – it needs to be overcome.”

Property Council executive director Daniel Gannon welcomed the announcement, saying “doing nothing isn’t an option”.

“Ageing city buildings with high vacancy rates means we need action at a policy level,” he said.

“Currently, development and building code barriers prevent building owners from transitioning their ageing commercial stock to prime multi-residential offerings…

“The property sector welcomes today’s announcement to remove barriers to repurposing older building stock, including heritage constraints, planning restrictions, and onerous building code requirements.

“We need to make it easier – and not harder – to transition our office buildings into residential apartments, and it’s positive news that policy-makers are listening.”