Building Initiative to Boost Decline
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The new initiative from Business Hawke’s Bay, to “Build in Hawke’s Bay,” is attracting attention from prospective home builders and comes at an opportune time, as latest building consent figures paint a gloomy picture for the region’s building industry.
Hawke’s Bay residential building consents were down 8% in the December period on the previous year, with just 24 approvals. The value of consents year on year was also down by just over 20% or $ 2M. The decline is mirrored by a number of other regional areas but comes off the back of a very subdued year for the Bay.
“While December is not the best month to measure changes given the slowdown prior to Christmas and a shorter working month, the persistent lethargy in building consent numbers remains a concern,” said Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Murray Douglas.
National residential building consents at December 2011 were up 13% on the year earlier with consents increasing in value by about one third in the same month a year earlier.
The “Build in Hawke’s Bay” campaign was launched in December with billboards aimed at encouraging holidaymakers to consider relocating and building in Hawke’s Bay.
The campaign has attracted inquiries already and has been followed up with advertising in property magazines outside of Hawke’s Bay.
Business Development Manager Michaela Vodanovich said there had been extensive support from building companies and associated industries for the pilot scheme.
“We have the support from local lending suppliers and we are in the process of building a website to heighten awareness of the project,” Ms Vodanovich said.
For further information contact:
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Murray Douglas |
Michaela Vodanovich |