New homes across Australia are now being built faster again as supply chain pressures and labour shortages have eased, new data shows.

But construction timeframes remain well above pre-COVID averages.

Master Builders Australia has released its latest analysis of build timeframes for new detached houses, townhouses and apartments across the past financial year.

The analysis considers the time which is taken from the granting of a building approval to the issuing of a completion certificate.

At a national level, the analysis has found that build timeframes eased across 2024/25 after peaking in 2023/24.

According to the report, across the nation:

  • In detached housing, average build timeframes (from approval to completion) eased by more than one month to go from 12.7 months in 2023/24 to 11.5 months in 2024/25.
  • In relation to townhouses, average build timeframes eased by more than one month from 16.0 months in 2023/24 to 14.8 months in 2024/25.
  • For apartments, average build times eased marginally from their peak of 33.1 months in 2023/24 to 32.9 months in 2024/25.

Not surprisingly, the report found that timeframes from commencement to completion are much longer compared with those between approval and commencement.

All up, average timeframes taken from approval to commencement add up to two, three and four months for detached houses, townhouses and apartments respectively.

From commencement to completion, average timeframes for the aforementioned dwelling types amount to nine months, one year (twelve months) and almost two and a half years (29 months).

Despite easing from their peak, the report shows that construction timeframes are increasing over the longer term.

Over the decade to 2024/25, approval to completion timefames increased by:

  • almost three months for detached houses (from 8.6 months to 11.5 months),
  • four months in the case of townhouses (from 11 months to almost 15 months) and
  • by one year in the case of apartments (from 21 months to 33 months).

In a statement, Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn welcomed the improvement but cautioned that more needed to be done to unblock new housing supply.

“We acknowledge the ongoing efforts of government to fix Australia’s housing crisis through planning reforms, investment and workforce initiatives, but more work is needed to sustain this momentum and deliver the homes our communities need,” Wawn said.

Master Builders Australia Chief Economist Shane Garrett said that the improvement in build times is the result of easing supply chain pressures and labour shortages.

 

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