Innovative construction industry supports government move for more affordable housing.
Leading industry stakeholder groups applaud the government’s announcement to release Auckland land parcels for
affordable housing development and encourage stronger leadership to deliver more quality housing more quickly.
PrefabNZ, the hub for prebuilt construction, represents the designers and makers of innovative offsite technologies. New
Zealand’s design and construction sector has a wealth of experience and technical capability in prefabrication where
large chunks of building parts or panels are brought to site ready-made.
From giant Lego-like pieces these homes can be delivered up to 50% faster, at higher quality from parts being made in
controlled conditions, and with savings up to 15% in construction cost.
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is the peak body for the community housing sector. It builds sector capability as well
as the reputation of the sector by showcasing its achievements and reinforcing its business and community models.
PrefabNZ and CHA support increased government leadership in the following areas of fit-for-purpose housing delivery:
• affordability – delivery of 100% of these homes at the Retained Affordable price point value - if government comes to
the party with reduced or deferred expectations of land value
• quality – delivery of purpose-built homes above the building code
• timeliness – delivery of a shortened construction period helps improve affordability with possible savings of over 6
months from conventional methods
• productivity – delivery of more efficiently produced housing through increased use of offsite construction
“Now is the time to take advantage of larger scale land and procurement opportunities to deliver better made housing and
increase the productivity of New Zealand’s construction industry,” says PrefabNZ Chief Executive Pamela Bell. “We should
be looking to Singapore government’s successful combination of
incentives in cash, logistical support and training to produce better housing solutions, faster.”
Singapore’s Construction Productivity and Capability Fund assists firms with technology adoption and workforce
development to push work offsite and improve building quality.
CHA Director Scott Figenshow says that government has the opportunity here to provide the crown land on terms that
ensure affordability is delivered and retained long term.
“Delivering a full continuum of housing choices, from affordable rental through to pathways to ownership, is the
hallmark of the community housing sector. We can do that in partnership with government and commercial partners – as
long as the settings are right for the best outcomes for families and communities”
Mr Figenshow said. “We welcome the opportunity to formally engage with Government to get those settings right. Community
housing providers haven’t been able to access the benefits that prebuilt construction can offer, given the historic
stop-start and short-term nature of our funding. This is an opportunity to change that – and why wouldn’t Government
want to do that?
ends