The following article was published by former NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler on LinkedIn. Republished with permission.

It’s time to accelerate NewApartmentConstruction

The NSW government’s plan to enable up to 6-storey apartments to be considered as Complying Development reflects a growing realisation that new developments of this size will be more scaleable and able to deliver a large component of the multi-unit dwellings needed statewide.

The challenge has always been industry capability and capacity. Starting now.

Its my view that the MMC conversation has largely been a distraction, lacking the nuance to target the supply of medium scaled apartment developments.

I have followed the Prefab conversation for over 15-years. The presentation in this post shows some of this journey. As a regulator over the last 5-years I have had the opportunity to reflect on what all this means.

There are a few core issues. Apartment buildings structures must be built to last 50-years. Their enclosures must last at least 25-years with apropriate program maintenance. These buildings must be fit for purpose, safe, resilient and insurable. Their attributes should demonstrate that the key BuildingElements as defined in the NSW DBPAct are satisfied. NSW is the most advanced Australian jurisdiction in providing a design and building framework for traditionally built apartments and anticipating new methods.

I have been a follower of the MMC advocacy and the work of the BuildingCRC4.0. Their latest publications on progress point to a recent pivot, adopting System600. The system operates across four main subsystems: structure, exterior, services, and interior finishes. It points to unlocking what researchers call “Wright’s Law”—the manufacturing principle where costs decline by approximately 20% for every doubling of cumulative production.

I think the CRC has lost its way. It focuses on the parts. Always suggesting that faster, cheaper and assured quality will be in reach one day. No measurable targets. Just more of the ‘hit and hope’ narrative.
Experienced industry players have abandoned the lego model. They have focused on assembly and changed their procurement models. The Hickory Building System is an example. The use of closed systems is a long way off as smart players like Sekisui with their Shawood homes display. Great quality, a procurement model built over 20-years delivering amazing efficiency, speed and quality.

There are the experiments consigned to history, like CSR’s Velocity and Enclose, and even Hickory’s UnitisedBuilding foray into manufacturing.

Our industry needs to move faster. Moving from BaU to SmartBaU seems the most viable. Using targeted ProductivityMeasures for the end to end procurement process can provide the practical and qualifying way forward.

Soundings on how an immediate uptake of re-scheduling and packaging traditional medium scaled residential developments is gaining interest with first mover Tier2 builders looking for a better way. They know the time has come.

Watch this space for opportunities to contribute and collaborate.