The Bay of Plenty building industry remains confident despite a small drop in building consents granted during June, with two sizable projects boosting consent value.

Figures released by Priority One show 245 building consents totalling $39.7 million were issued across the region by Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District councils.

An artist impression of the new Harcourts building on the corner of 3rd Ave and Devonport Road.

The number has fallen from 297, valued at $43.9m, for the month of May. But compared to June of last year, consent numbers have risen from 231, worth $33.9m.

Tauranga City Council issued 154 consents valued at $30.8m, with the majority granted for single and multi-unit dwellings during June.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council issued 91 consents worth $8.9m, with the bulk once again granted for single and multi-unit dwellings.

Two big projects given the tick by TCC and boosting consent values are a new Harcourts office complex on the corner of Devonport Road and 3rd Ave, valued at $1.8m, and five classrooms at Te Wharekura o Mauao, worth $1.1m.

Harcourts general manager Nigel Martin says the new complex will host about 50 staff currently based on Cameron Road.

While the project's consent is valued at $1.8m, Nigel says the entire two-storey building including furnishings will cost about $2.5m. He says staff are scheduled to move in during April, 2015.

Tauranga Master Builders president Brian Foster believes the region's building industry is going through a 'catch up phase”.

'Most people don't have the money in their bank accounts to do their building; they go and borrow it, do their building and then pay it off.

'I think it comes down to a confidence thing.”

Brian believes people are confident in their jobs, and in the economy for the next few years, and are prepared to take the next step on their housing projects.

He says Master Builders and Certified Builders are also working with TCC currently to reduce delays in getting permits out.

At the moment it can take up to six days for sites to be inspected by council staff, when it should take around two days or less.

By ironing out the various issues around permit delays the number of consents issued would increase, he says.

'We have had a meeting with council, they know there are problems and they are trying to sort them out.”

Priority One communications manager Annie Hill says despite the month's drop, the numbers of consents issued monthly have been consistent throughout the last year.

She adds in Tauranga for the month of May the number of consents granted this year was the highest since 2009.

'The other good thing in terms of Western Bay, their number of consents was well ahead of last months and they're hitting the highs as well over the last two years.”