Building consents down again

12.25pm

April was the third consecutive month seasonally adjusted new dwelling consents had declined.

Meanwhile on an absolute basis there were 2486 new dwelling units issued in April, down from 3037 the previous month but up 11 per cent on April last year. There were 588 consents for new apartment units in April compared with 548 in March.

Statistics New Zealand said the total value of residential consents issued in April was $520 million, down from $674 million in March and $560 million in February.

For the year ended April this year there were 31,677 new dwelling consents issued, up 12 per cent on the same period a year ago. This was the largest April year total since 1976, SNZ said.

Meanwhile on a regional basis, 12 of 16 regions recorded more new dwelling consents compared to a year ago.

The biggest increases were seen in Auckland and Christchurch and Northland. Wellington experienced the biggest decrease.

While residential building consents have been trending lower in recent months, those for non-residential buildings have continued their year-long rise.

However, the value of non-residential building consents in April at $239 million was down on the March total of $322 million.

By value, 24 per cent of non residential consents were issued for shops restaurants and taverns, 15 per cent were for offices and administration buildings, 11 per cent for education buildings and 10 per cent for storage buildings.

The total value of consents issued for all buildings in April was $759 million following $996 million in March and $773 million in February.

Total value of all building consents issued in the year to April was $9.73 billion, up 19 per cent on the same period a year earlier.

- NZPA