NCC 2022 - What happens to projects that are in the pipeline?

Created by Vicki Marshall, Modified on Mon, 27 Mar, 2023 at 3:37 PM by Vicki Marshall

Region: Victoria

Assessor Question:

I have a 42 Townhouse project that was given building approval in 2020 which should get underway later this year.

How will the new NCC 2022 and 7 star provisions impact that. Will the project now have to be optimised to meet the 7 star minimum standards?

TechLink Response:

The clear understanding in Victoria is that any amendments to regulations and standards with regard to building permits only apply to 'NEW' projects.
Designs that are deemed to have reached a substantial level of completion prior to the amendments are approved for compliance against the regulations and standards that applied at the time that the design was undertaken.
The formal process for this scenario is provided by a Section 10 of the Victorian Building Act.
That said, some municipalities are less constrained by that reasonable convention and may require different standards under their Planning Scheme policies.
It is always wise to check with the relevant local authority and obtain written confirmation.