Construction cost pressures delay projects in Western Australia Australia: Perth developments are facing delays as construction cost pressures continue to rise, according to Western Australia’s peak property industry body. Expectations that cost increases might stabilise have eased following new data indicating that pressures may intensify, contributing to a growing number of major projects being placed on hold. Industry representatives note that elevated input prices and lab

New Zealand residential construction rises in third quarter New Zealand: New Zealand’s residential building activity increased in the third quarter, indicating early signs of economic recovery following monetary stimulus by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand reported that the volume of residential building work rose 2.8 percent from the previous quarter, reversing a 3.3 percent decline. Activity has begun to edge higher from the four-year low recorded at

Australian building permits decline in October amid sector uncertainty Australia: The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a fall in building permits in October, with year-on-year growth shifting from 15.3 percent to minus 1.8 percent. The data points to a potential slowdown in the construction sector, raising concerns for developers and builders. Analysts note that the decline may reflect rising costs, supply chain constraints or shifts in consumer demand, and they are e

National Construction Code AUSTRALIA: Australia building ministers have agreed to pause major changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) until mid-2029, with only essential quality and safety measures taking effect. The measures include improved water management in commercial and apartment buildings, enhanced carpark fire safety standards, commercial energy efficiency reforms, and condensation mitigation. Planned requirements for home EV chargers and new residential ener

New South Wales Government AUSTRALIA: The New South Wales (NSW) Government has extended the closing date for the US$1 million Heat Pump Feasibility Grant to November 24, allowing businesses additional time to apply. The grant provides up to US$30,000 to cover 75% of project costs for feasibility studies that assess the potential for switching to heat pump technology. These studies include site screening, heat pump design options based on energy data, and detailed analysis to

New Zealand Residential Construction Costs Show Sustained Slowdown in September Quarter New Zealand: New Zealand’s residential construction costs rose only marginally in the September quarter, signalling a continued slowdown as the housing market stabilises and lending conditions ease ahead of 2026. The Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) showed the cost to build a standard single-storey brick and tile home increased 0.4%, down from 0.6% in Q2 and well below the long-term

New Zealand Sees 1.3% Rise in Annual Home Consents Driven by Multi-Unit Developments New Zealand: New Zealand recorded 34,078 new homes consented in the year ended August 2025, marking a 1.3 per cent increase compared with the previous year. The rise was supported by growth in both stand-alone homes, which increased by 1 per cent to 15,775 units, and multi-unit dwellings, up 1.6 per cent to 18,323 units. The increase was largely driven by apartment and townhouse developments