The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) has called for reforms to the National Construction Code (NCC) to better support housing affordability, climate resilience and alignment between building regulations and planning systems.
In a submission to the Federal Government’s consultation on streamlining and modernising the NCC, PIA said stronger coordination between planning and building regulation is essential to deliver more homes efficiently while reducing long-term living costs.
PIA Chief Executive Officer, Matt Collins, said planning systems and building codes serve different but closely connected roles in the housing development process.
“Planning systems guide where new housing can be located and what form it takes, while the National Construction Code regulates how buildings are designed and constructed,” Collins said.
“When these systems are not well aligned, it can create unnecessary complexity, delays and costs across the housing development process.”
Collins said the NCC plays a critical role in shaping construction productivity, housing supply and the long-term affordability of homes.
“Debates about housing affordability often focus on upfront construction costs, but building performance also influences household energy bills, transport costs and exposure to climate risks,” he said.
“If we want homes that remain affordable for decades, the National Construction Code must support better building performance, resilience and integration with the broader development system.”
PIA’s submission outlines five strategic priorities for NCC reform, including stronger governance arrangements for the Australian Building Codes Board, making the code freely accessible as core public regulatory infrastructure, and improving alignment between planning and building regulation.
The institute also called for the code to better support more diverse housing types, including medium-density and “missing middle” housing, which can help improve land use efficiency while reducing long-term household costs.
“A modern National Construction Code should streamline complexity and improve productivity while maintaining the quality and resilience of the homes Australians need,” Collins said.
“Delivering more homes isn’t just about building faster. It’s about ensuring new homes are in well-planned communities, are affordable to live in, resilient to climate risks and supported by the essential infrastructure people rely on.”
The Planning Institute of Australia represents the country’s urban and regional planning profession, with members working across government, industry and the community to shape productive, sustainable and liveable places.
