A new private building consent service, Building Consent Approvals, has officially launched, reducing waiting times and costs for “low-risk” house-building projects.
Building Consent Approvals is set to become the nation’s first independent residential building consent authority (BCA), operating on a national scale. One of the key promises of Building Consent Approvals is its ability to issue consents within just 10 working days for eligible residential projects, offering an alternative to traditional consent processes, which are often criticised for lengthy delays and high fees.
South Island Minister James Meager introduced the new building consent service in Selwyn, stressing that it adheres to the same regulatory standards as council authorities.
The privately owned company has received accreditation and registration as an independent Building Consent Authority, having been evaluated by International Accreditation New Zealand to confirm its compliance with Building Act regulations.
“In terms of the accreditation and the approval process, it’s quite a rigorous, thorough process to go through.”
“The authorities are going to have the same oversight that councils are subject to in terms of the responsibilities and obligations under the Building Act.”
Meanwhile, chairman of Building Consent Approvals, Tony Sewell, stated that the service will concentrate on “low-risk residential housing, particularly single-storey homes,” instead of large structures.
“Our goal is to make the building consent process faster, easier and cheaper. Our approach will support the rapid delivery of quality homes, particularly in high-growth areas like Selwyn and Christchurch, where housing demand continues to surge,” Sewell said.
The company said it holds comprehensive civil liability insurance for its operations, offering reassurance to homeowners, developers, and councils.