For the seven months to July 2016, both local Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District Councils issued the highest value of consents in any year since Priority One records commenced in 2003.

The city council recorded $443 million in consents issued for the seven month period, 27 per cent more than the previous high in 2004. The district issued $161.5 million in consents so far this year, 75 per cent more than the previous high in 2007.

Five $1m plus commercial consents were issued in July.

Consents for the combined sub-region are valued at $604.5 million for the seven month period, 45 per cent more than the previous high recorded in 2004.

In terms of the comparison between the value of consents issued to July 2015, Tauranga City is tracking 34 per cent higher than at the same time last year, while Western Bay is a massive 94 per cent ahead of the same time last year. The combined Western Bay sub-region is tracking at 45 per cent higher for the seven month period than in 2015.

Following a record breaking year in 2015, consents issued in 2016 are continuing to track very well for both Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The total number of consents issued in Tauranga city in July was 234, less than last month's 262 but ahead of the 195 consents issued in July a year ago. The two year high is 289 consents issued in October 2015.

Housing consents for July area valued at $32.1m, less than last month's $42.8m and also less than the $33.6m single dwelling consents issued in July 2015. The two year high is $45.6m consents issued in October 2015.

There were 89 house consents, less than the 98 in June and the 93 in July last year. The two year high is 136 consents issued in October 2015.

Commercial consents for July are valued at $28.2m, ahead of last month's $17.5m and significantly more than the $5.8m in commercial consents issued in July 2015. There were five $1m plus commercial consents issued this month: for two dwellings at Pacific Coast Retirement Village ($1.3m); for a medical centre at 752 Cameron Rd ($1.4m); for Stage 1 of the development of 19 commercial units at Tauriko Business Estate ($2.4m); for a commercial development with 29 apartments at 436 Maunganui Rd ($5.2m); and for industrial storage and office facilities at Port of Tauranga ($10.0m).

The number of commercial consents was 30, slightly more than last month's 27 and well ahead of the 20 issued in July 2015.