From 1 July 2025, the Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC) has replaced the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), consolidating compliance, insurance, and dispute resolution under one regulator. This reform increases developer liability, defect accountability, and documentation requirements. For developers, compliance-first strategies are no longer optional. Modular construction offers the most effective way to reduce exposure through factory QA, digital records, and predictable outcomes.
What is the Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC)?
The BPC is Victoria’s new regulatory body, replacing the VBA and integrating:
Dispute resolution (formerly DBDRV)
Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) oversight (previously VMIA)
Licensing, inspections, and compliance enforcement
The purpose: improve consumer protection, raise construction standards, and ensure builders and developers are more accountable for the quality of their projects.
Key Powers & Reforms Under BPC
The BPC brings sharper enforcement and oversight:
Defect liability: Developers are now more directly responsible for structural and non-structural defects.
Financial exposure: Developer bonds introduced for apartment projects increase upfront risk.
Integrated regulation: One body controls compliance, insurance, and dispute processes.
Stronger penalties: Non-compliance attracts heavier fines and longer liability periods.
Documentation requirements: Projects require clearer QA and compliance reporting to obtain occupancy.
This fundamentally reshapes the risk landscape for developers and builders alike.
What it Means for Developers
Under the BPC, developers must:
Accept greater accountability for construction quality and consumer protection.
Budget for potential developer bonds on apartment projects.
Prepare for stricter enforcement of defect liability and warranty claims.
Deliver documented evidence of compliance to secure occupancy permits.
Traditional builds, with their reliance on multiple trades and site-based inspections, are at higher risk of defects, disputes, and cost blowouts.
Why Modular Construction is the Smarter Response?
Modular offers developers a way to reduce exposure under BPC reforms:
Factory QA: Every module is inspected offsite before it leaves the factory.
Digital compliance packs: Traceable records for inspections, waterproofing, and services are ready to hand over.
Defect reduction: Controlled environments eliminate common site-based errors.
Audit-ready transparency: Developers can demonstrate compliance proactively.
By aligning modular processes with BPC’s compliance-first requirements, developers reduce risk and safeguard margins.
Case Example — Apartment Delivery Under New Rules
Traditional Approach:
Multiple trades onsite, overlap between waterproofing, services, and finishing.
Risk of missed inspections or incomplete documentation.
Higher chance of post-completion disputes.
Modular Approach:
Waterproofing and linings tested in-factory.
Every step digitally logged for compliance.
Modules craned onsite with pre-certified QA.
Defect risk significantly reduced.
The result: faster approvals, smoother occupancy certification, and fewer financial surprises.
Practical Steps Developers Should Take in 2025
Engage compliance early: Incorporate BPC requirements into design and planning.
Use modular advisory services: EcoPrestige offers a $45k pre-construction package covering concept, planning, feasibility, and compliance.
Adopt digital QA systems: Ensure every inspection and sign-off is recorded.
Align with DFP where possible: Use the Development Facilitation Program to fast-track approvals for eligible projects.
Educate stakeholders: Ensure financiers and partners understand how modular mitigates risk under BPC rules.
Conclusion — Compliance First = Modular First
The launch of the BPC is more than a regulatory update—it’s a paradigm shift in accountability for Victorian developers. The cost of non-compliance has never been higher, and the margin for error has never been smaller. Modular construction, with its emphasis on precision, documentation, and speed, is the safest and smartest pathway forward.
Next Steps — Partnering with EcoPrestige
EcoPrestige positions developers for success in the new BPC era by:
Embedding compliance at the design stage.
Delivering defect-resistant, structural steel modules.
Providing full digital QA and compliance handover packs.