CONSENT NUMBERS INCREASE BY 25%

The latest consenting figures show another increase for September 2021, as many regions saw jumps of more than 20% compared to the same period in 2020

There were 47,331 new home consents issued in the year to September 2021 – a 25% rise on figures from the previous September year.

Following six months of continuous growth, there was a drop in the number of seasonally adjusted new dwellings consented in September 2021. Following a 3.8% rise in August 2021 (4,490), September 2021’s figures were down 1.9% to 4,483.

Industry reflections

Multi-unit homes accounted for nearly half (46%) of all new homes consented in the year ending September 2021. This included 21,886 multi-unit homes – including townhouses, apartments, and flats – and 25,445 stand-alone houses.

According to Stats NZ construction statistics manager Michael Heslop, the numbers reflect a distinctive move towards multi-unit homes.

“The number of new multi-unit homes rose 40% in the year ended September 2021, compared with the September 2020 year, while the number of new stand-alone houses consented rose 15% over the same period.”

Up and up

Every single region experienced an increase in new dwellings consented in the year ending September 2021, compared with September 2020 year end, led by Canterbury (up 31%), Auckland and the rest of the North Island (up 29%), Waikato (up 23%) and Wellington (up 13%).

New homes consented per 1,000 residents across New Zealand increased to 9.3, from 7.4 in the September 2020 year.

Northland rose from 4.7 homes consented per 1,000 residents in 2020 to 7.2 – while Canterbury’s construction boom was characterised by its rise of 8.7 to 11.4.