NO PERMITS FOR FLATS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 798, 19 October 1929, Page 1

NO PERMITS FOR FLATS

TEMPORARY EMBARGO BY TOWN-PLAN BOARD CONTRACTS HELD UP Even though contracts have been let in many instances construction work on residential flats of any description on which building has not actually been begun has been temporarily prohibited by the City Council. 'J’HE embargo is made as a result of the recent inquiry by a committee of the Town Planning Board into the question whether building of the “bachelor flats” proposed by Marlborough Mansions Ltd. may go ahead.

As a result of the hold-up many builders and architects in the city are being inconvenienced, and employment is denied to a large number of tradesmen. Men are being thrown out of work at a time when the Government is trying to find employment for those in need of a job. Discussing the position with The Sun this morning, Mr. N. Cole, president of the Auckland Master Builders’ Association, said the Town-planning Board had given notice to the council thdt no further permits for flats, oneroom or otherwise, may be Issued until the board has decided upon a policy regulating the future of flats throughout the Dominion. Although the inquiry had been concerned only with the proposed “bachelor fiats,” Mr. Cole said, the scope had now widened to Include all forms of flats. It seemed hardly fair that, while the board was formulating a policy in respect of future flats, construction should be prohibited of buildings for which plans had been approved by the City Council. “Because of this many thousands of pounds of construction work has been held up,” said Mr. Cole. "In some Instances hardship 13 being caused through the delay in the issue of permits. Finance had already been arranged by a number of syndicates and heavy sums are being lost In interest charges. In one case flats which were returning a substantial revenue in rents have been demolished to make way for the immediate building of new structures. We have no j idea when the board will come to a decision—it may be next week, or perhaps six months. In the meani time we are in a difficult position.”