Councils go digital for building consents

Councils across New Zealand are using Objective Build to manage building consents and streamline the consent process

The online platform is designed to give builders a clearer idea of the status of applications, as well as actions required, and allows users to manage consents through their lifecycle.

Objective Build promises to make each stage of the consent process easier, such as the ability to reuse standard information to save applicants from re-entering the same information for each application.

Builders can also use the system to track the status of a consent, respond to Request for more Information, collaborate more easily with staff and create contact and document libraries.

In the case of a failed inspection, builders can see what has failed and why, which allows for faster remediation and a smoother process to Code Compliance Certification.

Popular around the country

The platform is used by 13 councils across the North and South Island, including: Western Bay of Plenty, Hutt City, Westland, Masterton, Waitaki, South Wairarapa, Buller, Hastings, Central Hawke’s Bay, Wairoa, Kaipara and Hastings District Councils.

“Across our customer base we have 55 Councils/Building Consent Authorities utilising one of our legacy consenting solutions. These solutions have been in the market for more than 10 years and have provided Objective with the foundation for Objective Build,” said Ross McCarthy, Strategic Engagement & Customer Success Director.

According to a case study published on the Objective Build website, Josh Lloyd, Community, Infrastructure and Development Manager for Central Hawke’s Bay District Council (CHBDC) said that the software makes the consenting progress simpler for staff and builders.

“We’re seeing incredible demands placed on the building and planning team, and as a smaller council, we don’t have masses of resources so we have to be innovative. One way we can do that is via technology.

“The team looked at a number of options and the Objective Build platform is fit-for-purpose, suited our needs and provided something we were confident our staff could use and would be suitable for our customers. It also means we can be more responsive and meet the needs of our customers more often.”

Hutt City Council have also experienced success with the platform – said Charlie Deed, Senior Building Officer: “Objective Build has improved the consenting process. By making it accessible to the customers, they can see where they are with the process. And the same with the staff here, it’s easier to receive the documents and then check them.”

Benefits everyone

CHBDC’s Building Cadet Thomas Kerr added that he was enthusiastic about the benefits the system would have for all parties.

“It’s going to create a more streamlined and transparent process for building consent applications. I like the transparency it creates between the council, designers and the owners.”

Builders who work across different council zones can also use the system to view any consent application, as long the council has signed up to the platform. An example of this is Kaipara District Council in Northland. Its neighbour, Whangarei, is expected to follow suit during 2024 – which will standardise building consent processes between the two districts.

The lack of efficiency in the consent process is something that has frustrated builders for a long time, as Under Construction has reported in the past. Objective Build is designed to mitigate some of these frustrations.

“I have some consents that have been with Christchurch Council for 57 days and they haven’t been picked up yet! We have buildings sitting idle because we can’t get things like pre-roof, pre-lining and final inspections,” said Home Trends Builders Director Peter de Gouw in August 2022.

Scott Siffleet, Director of New Plymouth-based Lifestyle Builders, has had issues in Taranaki around the same time as de Gouw in Christchurch, where consents have been sent to other Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) to relieve delays.

“I think it’s really strange that it’s gotten to a point where councils send consents to be reviewed by other councils. I never knew this happened, but now I believe it because a consent we sent to Stratford Council for approval came back with comments on it for rules that don’t apply in Taranaki!”