National Pact Logo
Source: Ministry of Housing
Emmanuelle Wargon, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition in charge of Housing, François BAROIN President of the Assembly of Mayors of France, Johanna ROLLAND, President of France Urbaine, and Sébastien MARTIN, President of the Assembly of Communities of France sign, with the main associations representing players in construction and social housing, a national pact for the revival of sustainable construction. This pact, signed with the presidents of the Social Union for Housing (USH), the Federation of Real Estate Developers (FPI), the French Building Federation and the Pôle Habitat of the French Building Federation (FFB ), the National Council of the Order of Architects (CNOA), and the National Union of Developers (UNAM), materialize the collective commitment for the relaunch of the construction of housing, hard hit, like others economic sectors, by the health crisis that our country is going through.------------------------------
Over one year, from October 2019 to September 2020, 393,300 housing units were authorized for construction, i.e. 43,900 less than during the previous twelve months (source of construction statistics September 2020; Data and statistical studies service of the Ministry of Ecological Transition). However, the revival of construction, in addition to the renovation of existing housing, the mobilization of vacant housing or the requalification of degraded buildings, is essential to develop a supply of affordable and quality housing in the territories where our fellow citizens have it. Not needed anymore.
Through its effects on the lives of citizens, the health crisis reinforces the need to transform our models of construction and design of housing and public spaces. This is why the pact reaffirms the need for the proposed constructions to meet the expectations of the French in terms of environmental quality, comfort and access to nature.
The pact focuses on two main areas of commitment: simplifying and accelerating urban planning procedures to limit the drop in housing starts in 2021 and support the emergence of sustainable construction projects, by promoting land sobriety and the quality of housing. and the living environment. It calls for a local variation, through local coordination agreements, to bring together the players concerned by its implementation. As such, an instruction to the Prefects accompanies the signing of the Pact, so that they organize its local implementation, in the form of local coordination bodies on planning authorizations. The circular also insists on the necessary continuity of the instruction and issuance of planning authorizations (in particular building permits) and approvals for social housing during the new period of confinement. Emmanuelle Wargon: “This pact is a strong political act which reflects the mobilization of all stakeholders in favor of intense housing construction activity in our country, to meet the needs of the French, revive the economy and contribute to the development of territories. This pact is open and I invite all the actors concerned to sign it with us. " Source: Ministry Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition in charge of Housing,
