Real client story · Glenbrook, Auckland
Catherine McCarthy wanted a second-hand cabin to provide extra retirement income. ArchSolutioNZ helped turn that idea into a coordinated Auckland Council consent—bringing together measured drawings, foundation engineering, stormwater options and practical support through the build.
The outcome so far
Building consent was issued on 17 April 2026. The cabin was moved onto the property, the deck and services progressed, and council approved the hot-water-cylinder and stair changes on 7 September. The 1 October drainage recheck passed.
Construction and final sign-off are still in progress, with our support continuing through the next stage.
The client behind this story
Catherine wanted to turn a second-hand cabin into a welcoming rental on her Glenbrook property. She came to us for help making sense of the consent process and bringing her plans to life.
“Extremely helpful. I honestly couldn’t have done this without Alex’s help. He was the behind-the-scenes project manager coordinating what professionals and documentation I needed which he later collated and presented to council.”
The starting point
Catherine’s aim was to relocate an existing cabin onto her property and rent it out. But she was concerned that zoning restrictions and the lack of a suitable stormwater system could stop the project before it began.
The starting information was limited: some pencil drawings from the cabin’s builder, existing-building records and specialist reports that needed to fit a new site. A self-contained cabin with kitchen and bathroom facilities needed more than a delivery arrangement.
We visited and recorded the cabin and site, developed the architectural plans and coordinated the independent relocation, geotechnical and engineering information. The site layout also respected Catherine’s brief: a sunny deck, access around the building and an established hydrangea she wanted to keep.
“The scans also helped me visualize where the cabin would be located on the property and the assurance that accurate plans would be drawn up for council.”
Where our involvement made a difference
The geotechnical findings identified expansive soils and the need for specific engineering design. We coordinated the architectural plans with the independent structural engineer’s cabin and deck foundation package, rather than treating a small cabin as a standard-ground assumption.
We worked through the proposed tank and spreader system, queried alternative connections and explained the implications before Catherine chose how to proceed. A macerator addressed the limited wastewater fall; product information and drainage evidence remained part of the coordination.
We prepared the RFI response and revised drawings, brought in the relevant engineer information and explained the remaining questions to Catherine. We kept the architectural and specialist information connected so Catherine could understand the next steps.
Cost control meant helping Catherine understand choices and compare professional proposals—not promising that every specialist input or council charge could be avoided. We explained development contributions and the difference between an apparently simple drainage connection and a documented, acceptable solution.
Consent to construction
Catherine described consent approval as a huge relief after the cabin had waited on temporary skids. On 17 April we supplied the approved documents and a guide to the next steps. By May, the cabin was being lifted into position; by August, the new deck and front stairs were taking shape.
Catherine moved the hot-water cylinder outside to free up internal space and relocated the stairs to the front of the deck. We updated the architectural plans, coordinated stamped structural information and provided the application forms and instructions for her submission.
Council approved the exterior cylinder and changed stair location on 7 September, keeping the plans aligned with Catherine’s preferred layout.
“Alex promptly changed the plans to reflect any last-minute changes I made so that everything could be submitted to council…”
“It’s really quite remarkable the level of support and service Alex offers. It’s like going back 50 years when service and going above and beyond were the norm.”
The project journey
October–December 2025
We reviewed the relocation information, recorded the cabin and site, developed drawings from the available sketches and discussed orientation, access and existing planting. Geotechnical findings identified the need for specialist foundation design.
January–February 2026
The architectural package developed alongside the independent engineer’s cabin and deck foundations. Site dimensions, deck size, hot water, kitchen extraction and pumped wastewater were coordinated. The building-consent application was lodged in February.
March–17 April 2026
ArchSolutioNZ prepared the RFI responses and drawing updates, coordinating specialist input on foundations and stormwater. Auckland Council issued the building consent on 17 April, and we supplied the approved documents and next-step guidance.
May–August 2026
The cabin was lifted into position in May, followed by the new deck and front stairs during construction. Construction-stage discussions covered foundation evidence, professional records and changes to the hot-water-cylinder and stair locations.
7 September 2026
We prepared revised architectural plans, coordinated the necessary structural input and provided the minor-variation forms and submission instructions. Catherine submitted the package; council approved the exterior hot-water-cylinder and relocated deck stairs.
October 2026 · Construction support
The drainage inspection passed on 1 October. Construction and final sign-off are still in progress, with ArchSolutioNZ continuing to guide Catherine through the next steps.
For Catherine, getting consent was an important milestone, but having someone to turn to during construction mattered just as much. We continued helping with practical questions, updated drawings and the documentation for council, so she had a clear next step as the project progressed.
Catherine’s own words
In September 2026, Catherine reflected on the journey—from her first concerns about council and stormwater to the relief of consent approval and the support she received during construction.
I wanted to relocate a small cabin onto the front of my property with the intention to rent it out to generate extra income in retirement.
I had concerns that council would reject my minor dwelling consent application due to restrictions in my zone and having no stormwater system in place.
I chose ArchSolutionNZ because of Alex’s professionalism and prompt communication. He really listened and I could tell from our initial discussions and testimonials that he was honest reliable and had the necessary knowledge and skills.
It was very helpful as initially all I had were some pencil drawings from the retired builder who built my cabin. The scans also helped me visualize where the cabin would be located on the property and the assurance that accurate plans would be drawn up for council.
My home is one of the original 1950’s bach’s at Glenbrook beach and I wanted to retain an old Hydrangea bush near the front boundary. Alex took this into consideration when drawing up plans for the cabin and new deck extension so as not to harm the plant.
Alex is an excellent communicator and informed me of my obligations every step of the way. In addition, he has very easy to follow written information about what is required from council.
Extremely helpful. I honestly couldn’t have done this without Alex’s help. He was the behind-the-scenes project manager coordinating what professionals and documentation I needed which he later collated and presented to council.
Yes absolutely. I wanted to satisfy all of council’s requirements and not have anything come back and bite me later. I have peace of mind knowing everything was done to a very high standard.
As mentioned earlier my home has no existing storm water system because of its age and location. Alex presented me with several options and helped me understand what the best option would be to proceed with minimal delays and avoiding exorbitant costs.
Very helpful. Alex already had professional people he works with so I could trust they would do a good job.
Extremely helpful as I was initially unaware of these hidden costs.
Yes definitely. Alex drew a macerator into the plans because I did not have enough fall for the drainage to be connected to the existing lines. Alex also suggested I choose an electric hot water cylinder over a gas califont with the option to later install solar panels. Because the cabin ‘s power is connected to the main house I can install a hybrid solar system so when it’s cloudy the cabin can pull power from my house and solar power when the sun is shining. Any power the cabin doesn’t use will go back into the grid enabling even more savings
Very supportive. I never felt alone in the whole process. Alex was always available to keep me updated with progress or any issues that needed addressing.
Absolutely over the moon! The cabin had been sitting on temporary skids for a while and it was a huge relief knowing we could finally move forward.
Extremely helpful. Alex put together a detailed list of what to do every step of the way to gain code of compliance and as I starting making a few changes to the original drawings he quickly communicated what was required and altered the drawing accordingly. It’s really quite remarkable the level of support and service Alex offers. It’s like going back 50 years when service and going above and beyond were the norm.
Yes, Alex’s detailed plans made it easy to see for inspectors and engineers what was required due to the nature of my soil. The Geotech report stated what type of subfloor bracing and foundation layout was required for council approval
The hot water cylinder was moved outside creating more space inside the cabin and the stairs were moved from the side of the deck to the front with a view to allowing more space for a future pergola. As the stairs were now in front of the main door the inspector suggested we add handrails for compliance. Alex promptly changed the plans to reflect any last-minute changes I made so that everything could be submitted to council for the final inspection regarding minor variations.
Honestly Alex is just a genuinely nice person to deal with. His communication is very prompt and professional. Being a complete rookie, I needed a lot of hand holding through this process but I never felt any question was a burden and the written guidelines for compliance were super helpful.
The whole consent process was initially quite daunting for a newbie like me and my stormwater issues could’ve put an end to my dream of a little cabin at the end of my front lawn. However, Alex’s thorough knowledge of the whole process and excellent communication throughout actually made this a very enjoyable project in the end.
Absolutely! I have no hesitation recommending ArchSolutionNZ to anyone embarking on this journey. Some burdens are too big to carry on your own and this is one of them. Alex’s very calm polite nature, architectural expertise and experience dealing with council gave me confidence with the final decisions I had to make. I’m so glad I found your company and look forward to working with you again in the future.
In answer 12, Catherine also shares her ideas for adding solar in the future. This remains a future option to explore with her electrical specialist.
Catherine sent us this email and her written responses in September 2026. Read her full account of the decisions, milestones and support that mattered to her.
This project shows our direct experience with existing-building recording, relocation documentation, specialist coordination and construction-stage support. We explain what information is needed, who needs to provide it and how it connects to the next council decision.
Share your ideas, the property information and any existing plans or reports. Our NZ Registered Architect-led service begins with due diligence so we can define a clear architectural scope and fixed fee, including the specialist coordination and council support your project needs.
services@archsolutionz.co.nzWe recorded the existing cabin and site, prepared the architectural drawings and consent documentation, coordinated independent specialist information, responded to council RFIs, explained options and supported construction-stage questions. We later prepared the minor-variation documents and helped organise the records needed for the CCC stage.
No. Catherine intended a self-contained cabin with kitchen and bathroom facilities. The consent covered the relocation, new foundations, drainage connections, external deck, hot-water cylinder and rangehood penetration. A detached room and a self-contained dwelling should not be treated as the same project.
The project followed a building-consent pathway for the cabin relocation and associated site works. A minor variation later recorded the changes to the hot-water-cylinder and stair locations.
Small floor area did not remove the site-specific issues. The geotechnical findings called for specialist foundation design, and the stormwater proposal needed coordinated engineering and council documentation. Wastewater also needed a pumped solution because of the available fall.
For Catherine, our support continued with construction questions, updated plans, the minor variation and guidance through inspections and completion documentation. Construction and final sign-off are still in progress.
Yes. Send the available building records, photos, intended use and property information. We can review the likely pathway and define the architectural scope, specialist inputs and fixed fee before detailed work. We start by checking the requirements for your own site and intended use.
Start with the intended use, site constraints and available building information.
Architectural documentation, specialist coordination and council support.
Explore the site and approval pathway before committing to detailed design.
Understand the approved documents, inspections and construction records.
Know why changes need to be recorded and assessed.
Prepare the professional and trade evidence for the completion stage.
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Prepared by Alejandro Hidalgo, NZ Registered Architect, ArchSolutioNZ. Alejandro led the architectural documentation and coordination for Catherine’s Glenbrook cabin relocation, supporting her through consent, construction changes and the next council steps. Published 19 October 2026.
Every relocation starts with its own building, site and intended use. We bring that information together to help owners understand the right pathway for their project.