Fund details
Contact: Climate Change Team: climateaction@wcc.govt.nz
Fund Closure Notice
Following the adoption of the 2024 Long-Term Plan, the Environmental and Accessibility Performance Fund is now closed for applications. We thank all participants who have applied and contributed to making Wellington a more sustainable and accessible city.
About this fund
The Environmental and Accessibility Performance Fund (EAPF) was established to encourage economic development and recognise the strategic importance of green-certified buildings and accessible design across newly built and refurbished residential and commercial developments in Wellington.
The EAPF aimed to cover a portion of the costs associated with building improvements, supporting broader Council outcomes around health, environment, and accessibility.
Eligibility criteria
Commercial developments
Commercial developments (new and refurbished buildings) are eligible to apply
for environmental sustainability performance funding only.
There is a maximum of $500,000 per commercial project available.
Successful applications will need to meet all the following
criteria:
Eligible for:
-
$2,500 per 50 sqm, up to a maximum of $250k (retrofits achieving Green Star
4; new builds not eligible).
- $3,500 per 50 sqm, up to a maximum of $350k (achieving Green Star 5).
-
$5,000 per 50 sqm, up to a maximum of $500k (achieving Green Star 6 or
Living Building Challenge).
Residential developments
Residential developments (new builds and refurbished buildings) are eligible
to apply for either or both environmental sustainability performance and
accessibility performance criteria.
Maximum of $2 million per residential project available if meeting both
environmental sustainability and accessibility performance criteria.
Environmental sustainability performance criteria
Successful applications will need to meet all the following
criteria:
- Must be a multi-unit residential development of 10 or more units.
- No new natural gas connections.
-
Achieve minimum points in
Homestar across
the ‘Reducing Construction Waste Criteria’ for Minimising,
Onsite Sorting, and Waste Diversion categories.
-
Achieve relevant accreditation from Homestar or Living Building Challenge.
Certification must be the current version when a building consent is
submitted and must be valid within the last six months of final application.
Eligible for:
-
$10,000 per unit (self-contained residence), up to a maximum of $750k (only
for retrofits achieving Homestar 6; new builds not eligible).
-
$15,000 per unit (self-contained residence), up to a maximum of $1M
(achieving Homestar 7).
-
$20,000 per unit (self-contained residence), up to maximum of $1.5M
(achieving Homestar 8 or higher or Living Building Challenge).
Accessibility performance criteria
Successful applications will need to meet all the following
criteria:
- Must be multi-unit residential development of 10 or more units.
-
Minimum 30% of dwellings (units) must achieve
Lifemark 4 or higher certification. Certification must be the current version when a
building consent is submitted and must be valid within the last six months
of final application.
Eligible for:
-
$7,500 per unit (self-contained residence), up to a maximum of $500k
(achieving Lifemark 4 for at least 30% of units)
-
$15,000 per unit (self-contained residence), up to a maximum of $500k
(achieving Lifemark 5 for at least 30% of units)
Conditions
All of the following conditions must be met or the application will not be
accepted
- The development must be in Wellington City.
- The application must be submitted by a legal entity.
-
The following are ineligible: the Crown, state sector organisations,
overseas state agencies, community boards, Council-controlled organisations
and Council business units.
- Only one application may be submitted per development.
-
The Council reserves the right to adjust the criteria to manage shifting
strategic priorities. Any changes will be communicated on the Council
website. Existing EOIs at the time of changes being approved will be
honoured.
-
If New Zealand building code standards are increased, the Fund may be
closed, or the criteria increased. If the Fund is closed, the Council will
honour existing EOI’s that include approved building consent submitted
prior to the regulatory changes.
Application process
First, check whether your project meets the above criteria. If you are unsure,
contact the Policy Submission mailbox to discuss your project using the
details at the top of this page.
Applications are made on a two-stage process.
Stage 1: An online Expression of Interest (EOI) must be
submitted to ‘reserve’ the funds. The amount of funding that is
reserved is based on the specified criteria you wish to pursue.
-
Once the EOI is accepted, applicants will be prompted to log into the
application portal system (Fluxx) to confirm that the project and contact
details are correct.
-
Applicants will then sign and return a Terms & Conditions document,
which specifies the total amount of reserved funding.
-
Applicants will then have 6 months to provide both the building consent
confirmation and engagement proof with either the New Zealand Green Building
Council and/or Lifemark.
-
EOIs can be submitted up to 6 months prior, or within 6 months of lodging a
building consent application. The EOI will lapse after 6 months if a
building consent has not been submitted.
-
Once the building consent has been approved, it must remain valid.
Extensions for building consents can be requested through the normal Council
process.
-
The approved EOI will ‘reserve’ the funds for a maximum of 3
years. If a development takes longer than expected, applicants will need to
request an extension, which may be approved at the Council’s
discretion.
Stage 2: Final Application must be submitted to receive the
funds. This includes:
-
Evidence of Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) and final accreditation
certification from either Homestar, Green Star, Living Building Challenge
and/ or Lifemark, as outlined in the criteria above.