Thursday 28 November 2013

Building consent processing times

Council figures show that the average time for granting a building consent for a house in October was 26 working days. This was for complete applications which could be accepted for processing because no further information was required.

The figures for October also show that where the Council suspended processing, the average number of processing days for the same type of consent extended to 47 working days. Application processing is suspended when the Council has to ask the applicant for more information. Processing cannot start again until an applicant has replied with all the information required.

Complex projects requiring more planning and detail to ensure safety and compliance with the building code took longer to process. A building consent for a new commercial building took an average of 45 working days where no further information was required, but averaged an additional 21 working days (total: 69 working days) when more information was requested and later supplied by the applicant.

Crown Manager Doug Martin says that the figures for one month do not show a trend but it is important that the public are given an indication of how long their building consent might take.

"It has been the question on everyone's lips. These figures show what the Council is achieving at a time when it is experiencing a tsunami of demand for building consents. I think we will see delays for some time yet but in the New Year these figures will start to get better. From there customers will see a gradual but positive trend for their applications."

Consent Type Average number of days excluding suspension time* - October 2013 Average number of days including suspension time* - October 2013

(more information requested from applicant - waiting for a reply) Commercial / industrial alterations & additions Average is 35 working days Average is 101 working days Commercial / industrial new building Average is 45 working days Average is 69 working days Commercial accessory building Average is 52 working days Average is 57 working days Marquees and other temporary structures Average is 21 working days Average is 23 working days Residential accessory building (habitable) e.g. sleep out or family flat Average is 29 working days Average is 55 working days Residential accessory building (non-habitable) e.g. garage Average is 27 working days Average is 40 working days Residential demolition Average is 2 working days Average is 4 working days Residential house (new build or rebuild) Average is 26 working days Average is 47 working days Residential external alterations and additions Average is 34 working days Average is 59 working days Residential internal alterations only Average is 38 working days Average is 44 working days Residential multi-unit dwelling Average is 34 working days Average is 58 working days Residential plumbing and drainage Average is 20 working days Average is 23 working days Residential swimming/spa pool Average is 24 working days Average is 32 working days Solar water heater Average is 31 working days Average is 33 working days Solid fuel burner Average is 3 working days Average is 8 working days Amendment Average is 16 working days Average is 35 working days * Application processing is suspended when the Council has to ask the applicant for more information. Processing cannot start again until an applicant has replied with all the information required. -ends- Online video: In this short video from a recent Building Consents Action Plan session for construction industry professionals, Crown Manager Doug

ends

© Scoop Media