National to make it easier to build the future

National will make it easier to build shops, offices and other commercial buildings by removing unnecessary delays and costs in the building consent system.

Why it matters

For retailers, developers and businesses, this means less time stuck in consenting and more certainty to invest, expand and create jobs. For families and communities, it means new shops, workplaces and local amenities can be built sooner and at lower cost.

Commercial buildings make up around $9 billion of consented work each year, yet many projects still face extra checks, paperwork, costs and uncertainty that can slow development.

What National will do

Backing expert sign-off

National will allow qualified engineers to sign off certain building work without the need for a council inspection by formalising the role of producer statements in the Building Act.

Producer statements are already widely used across the building sector and provide assurance from qualified professionals that work complies with the Building Code. They help councils decide whether there are reasonable grounds to issue a building consent or code compliance certificate and can reduce the need to duplicate specialist checks.

A specialist pathway for major projects

National will designate a specialist Building Consent Authority (BCA) to consent large commercial buildings through a single, nationally consistent process.

Large and complex commercial developments often require specialist engineering expertise. The new BCA will provide a dedicated pathway with the right expertise, reducing delays and increasing certainty for major projects.

Buildings in scope are expected to include large or complex commercial buildings, including high-rise and high-occupancy structures.

The benefits

• Faster consent processes for major commercial developments
• Reduced unnecessary costs and duplication
• More certainty for businesses looking to invest and grow
• More jobs and economic activity
• New shops, workplaces and community facilities delivered sooner
• Local councils freed up to focus on residential and standard building consents

National has already taken steps to make building easier and more affordable, including allowing more overseas building products, speeding up inspections, improving liability rules and making earthquake-prone building rules more practical.

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