Wairarapa expertise builds fast track for houses

A Wairarapa businessman who consulted with the government on volume building consents says National's new Multiproof legislation will cut red tape and free up local councils.
Jennian Homes Wairarapa and Hutt Valley managing director Gareth Norris was a guest at Parliament last week when Minister of Building and Construction Maurice Williamson launched the new legislation, which National says will streamline the building consents process making it faster and cheaper.
Mr Norris is also the Milestone Homes Wairarapa and Hutt Valley franchisee and alongside Milestone general manager Stephen Murray was invited to attend the launch of The National Multiple-Use Approval Service - known as MultiProof - by Mr Williamson.
Mr Norris was involved in advisory surveys into MultiProof which began about a year ago and was selected as a leader in the volume building sector of the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley.
"I advised on areas of cost and time saving ideas that the Department of Housing should consider to reduce costly red tape from with in the building consent process. Stephen Murray was also involved in helping the government launch this new service," Mr Norris said.
"The nuts and bolts of the scheme is to reduce cost and time in the processing of building consents for plans that get built through out the country on a regular basis.
"The approved plans, which Milestone Homes will be one of the first to submit for approval, will be required to have a building consent issued by the local territorial authority within ten working days rather than the current 20 working days. This will save time and money for the new home owner," he said.
Mr Norris said the National Multiple-Use Approval Service still allows for variations to the building consent, making companies like Milestone Homes and Jennian Homes more a flexible cost effective quality option for new home owners.
Mr Williamson said that "without compromising quality and safety, MultiProof fast-tracks building consents for standard, multiple-use building designs.  It will save time and money for both consumers and builders.
"Volume builders can now apply to the Department of Building and Housing for MultiProof approval to certify a building design for multiple use meets building code requirements."
Until now volume builders have been required to have the same design assessed and approved each time that design is used.
"That stifling process and duplication was unproductive with no benefit to the consumer or the builder. With MultiProof designs, only site-specific conditions will need to be checked by local councils, reducing the time-frame for building consent decisions from 20 days to just ten days," the minister said.