Building Consent Processing Update
Our building consent timeframes have continued to improve since the start of the year with good progress on the backlog of applications received.
At the end of May:
- The average working days for building consents was below 20 working days (note this is an average, with a number of applications still going over the 20 day statutory timeframe)
- We received the second largest number of new applications ever received in a month
- 62% of applications were processed within 20 working days, with our team processing a massive 372 building consents (our highest ever in a month)
- A record number of applications were received and processed through our fast track consenting – for more details on fast tracking consents see our information on the professional partnership programme
What does this mean for me?
- This increase in applications means your application is more likely to go over the 20 day statutory timeframe
- With the increased workload you may also see
- delays with reviewing your required documents due to the high volumes of these being submitted, and
- inspection bookings limits on some days.
- We are taking a firmer approach with applications coming in; they need to
- be complete with all information provided when submitted,
- meet the criteria on our website for supplying your supporting documents and the order you supply them in, and
- be for a subdivision with a minimum of a s223.
We’re sorry that this situation is affecting you. Thank you for your ongoing patience.
These challenges aren’t unique to us - there is still a shortage of qualified people available across the country to process consents or inspect building work.
What are we doing about it?
- We’re training and upskilling our current team
- Continue to use contractors as available
- Recruiting new staff and contractors when able
- Currently recruiting to train another group of people to help overcome the labour market shortage
- Keep exploring other initiatives that will help us get through the workload.
What can I do to help things go more smoothly?
- Plan ahead
- Let us know early if you need help with your application
- Get all the relevant approvals that you need before you apply for your building consent
- Build plenty of buffer into your building schedule to allow for potential delays – for example building supply shortages or substitution of products that need a formal amendment to your consent will be added to the processing queue
- Be ready for inspection from 7.30am on the day of inspection - inspections will still be charged if the site is not ready for the booked inspection
- You can track progress of your application using our online electronic consenting system AlphaOne. If you don't have access:
- ask your agent to provide you with access, or
- create your own login and contact us on 0800 SELWYN (735 996) – you’ll need to provide us with your building consent number so that we can give you access
- Load documents correctly into AlphaOne – look at our information on how to supply your supporting documents on our website
- Use the professional partnership programme (PPP) partner if you’re an approved partner
- Provide prompt RFI responses
- list the changes
- provide only the relevant pages, and
- identify changes with a cloud
- Pay for consents when they're issued or let us know if your project isn’t going ahead so that we’re not having to follow up with you
- Load your required documents into AlphaOne at least one day before the relevant inspection.
Please be assured that we will get to your consent – frequently calling us to check on current status of your application takes us away from processing it.