September 17th, 2024
In a bid to tackle the protracted delays in the building consent system, the New Zealand government, under the stewardship of Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, has mandated that councils now submit quarterly data on building consent and code compliance certificates, a government media release said on Wednesday.
This move is aimed at accelerating the processing times and alleviating the frustration and financial setbacks faced by builders due to these delays.
The big picture: Streamlining construction
The coalition government is set to introduce new requirements for councils to report their building consent and code compliance certificate data every quarter.
Minister Chris Penk highlighted the construction sector's frustrations with the current system, noting that applications which should be completed within 20 working days often face significant delays.
What's happening: A response to industry feedback
Delays in the building consent system have been cited as a factor increasing construction costs and hindering the delivery of more affordable homes for New Zealand families.
The absence of consistent nationwide data on building consent timeframes has been identified as a key issue, with the previous Labour Government criticised for not collecting this data regularly.
Driving the news: A new era of transparency
Starting in April, Building Consent Authorities will be required to submit their processing timeframes to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which will then publish this data on its website every quarter.
This initiative aims to foster a culture of best practice and innovation within the sector, ultimately reducing delays and allowing builders to progress with their projects more efficiently.
Why it matters: Towards a more efficient system
By collecting and publishing data on building consent timeframes, the government hopes to provide greater certainty for the construction sector and lay the groundwork for future reforms.
Minister Penk views this as an essential step towards realising the government's ambitious plans to overhaul the building consent system, making it more streamlined and builder-friendly.
What's next: An eye on the future
The processing times for building consent and code compliance certificate applications for the first quarter of 2024 are scheduled to be published in the week of 29th April, marking a significant shift towards greater accountability and efficiency in the building consent process.