New law to hasten building consents

Parliament last night passed a law to speed up the building consent process and reduce costs for projects where multiple similar buildings are erected.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said the The Building Amendment Bill (No 2) marked an important first step of ongoing building reforms.

It followed work done by the previous Labour Government.

The bill introduced multiple-use building approvals to reduce duplication and fast-track the consent process for group home builders who build homes on sites across the country using the same, or similar, designs.

It also defined a new streamlined process to manage minor variations to building plans after the consent is issued, saving time for applicants and councils. And it makes project information memorandums, known as PIMs, voluntary.

Further work on the Building Act would consider if some consents now required were actually necessary; the underlying risk and liability framework in the sector; giving more responsibility is transferred to builders, designers, and consumers; some self-certification; home warranty insurance; removing unnecessary building control regulation.

- NZPA