Consents soar for new Masterton homes

Carterton had a single consent granted for a new home in April, Masterton had 11, and South Wairarapa had consents granted for four new homes. FILE PHOTO

Consents granted for new homes in Carterton were at their lowest level in more than a year in April but consents for new homes in Masterton were at their highest.

Carterton had just one consent granted for a new home in April, worth $380,000. Masterton had 11, worth a total of $1.4 million. South Wairarapa had consents granted for four new homes worth $1.3 million, down on the previous month's nine.

Holmes Construction Group quantity surveyor Quintin Moore said work at the company was going well and the residential sector was particularly busy.

Most of Holmes Construction's current projects were based in South Wairarapa and it was not working on any residential builds in Carterton or Masterton.

Mr Moore said business was up on the same time last year. The year to come was also looking positive for the company, based on the enquiries received.

Nationally, apartment consents reached a seven-year high in April, according to Statistics New Zealand. Building consents were issued for 467 apartments, almost all of which would be built in Auckland.

Spokesman Neil Kelly said consents for houses and townhouses were also at average levels historically, while retirement village consents reached record highs over the past year.

In April 2112 new dwellings were consented - up 1.4 per cent from the same month last year. However, the seasonally adjusted number fell 1.7 per cent in April compared with March.

The regions that consented the most new dwellings in April were Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato.

Consents for all buildings totalled $1.2 billion in April, with $757 million for residential buildings and $419 million for non-residential buildings.

Of the non-residential consents value, Canterbury accounted for 31 per cent, and Auckland 27 per cent.