Vergriete recognizes a rate of HLM production “not sufficient”

“We will have a number of social housing approvals which should be around 85.000,” said the minister, on the eve of the opening of the congress of the Social Union for Housing (USH), the main confederation of social landlords.

“The number of approvals (authorizations, editor's note) is not sufficient on a national scale,” he added, nevertheless saying he was opposed to immediately defining a quantified production objective.

The previous objective, set in 2021 by the then minister, Emmanuelle Wargon, aimed for 250.000 new housing units in two years. It was largely a failure, with less than 100.000 authorizations per year in 2021 and 2022.

“I would like, beyond the question of the national construction rate, to instead set territorial objectives,” he said, proposing to define them for three types of sites: construction, acquisition-improvement and renovation.

“(We will set) a national production objective, but once we have the needs territory by territory,” he promised.

According to a study commissioned by the USH, 198.000 new social housing units should be created per year to respond to major demographic trends and reduce poor housing.

The minister, who is due to speak at the closing of the USH congress, said he had sent proposals for a “confidence pact” to the confederation this weekend, without revealing their content.