Architects were worst affected by green project deferrals in 2009 since the majority of projects stalled at the design stage, according to new research.

The analysis on green building in Australia in 2009 by BCI Australia found that 14 projects were deferred and seven projects were abandoned at the design stage, compared with three deferrals and one abandonment at the documentation stage, and 10 deferrals and six abandonments at the building stage.

Generally, green projects are twice as likely to be deferred as to be abandoned, the research, compiled by research manager, Michelle Aizenberg, and community director, Brooke Barr, found.

A reasonably high rate of deferrals can be expected in green projects because they usually require more collaboration and more funding, BCI suggests.

The bulk of green projects were built in the eastern states, with Queensland building the most, followed by Victoria and New South Wales.

However, those projects that are built in New South Wales are larger developments with bigger budgets. The report found that New South Wales banked the highest value of green projects of all the states in 2009, followed by Queensland and Victoria respectively. While Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory have healthy markets in green building, this is overshadowed by the three large eastern states, which hold 80 per cent of the $21 billion green building market.

A third of all green projects were commercial or office developments, while the retail sector made up a further 25 per cent of building. Up to 10 per cent of hospitality, tourism, leisure, sports facilities, healthcare, community-based projects, aged care and residential works came with Green Star briefings or requirements.

Overall, the green building sector was “not immune to the financial crisis”, BCI said. However, BCI researchers reported a positive shift in the perception of green building from being an expensive ideal to being expected, at least at a minimal level.

“Anything built today that is not green will age prematurely”, BCI’s chief executive, Matt Krups, said.

Gemma Battenbough

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