Housing revival: a breath of fresh air to get the building sector out of its impasse

For more than a year, new housing construction has been at a standstill, building starts are falling and renovation is struggling to take over, due to a lack of sufficiently attractive and transparent incentive schemes.

Without a rapid resumption of activity, a whole part of the country's productive capacity risks disappearing.

In this context, the Housing Recovery Plan marks a much-needed change of course. With a target of 400.000 new homes built per year, aiming for 2 million homes by 2030, the Government is finally setting a clear framework. For construction companies, this is not just a political signal: it represents the prospect of emerging from the crisis.

Order books to move beyond crisis management

The first measure is immediate: €500 million has been allocated to enable social housing providers to build and renovate 125.000 homes starting in 2026. This injection of funds is vital. It restores visibility to companies that have been operating on a short-term basis for too long.

Secure order books finally allow managers to move beyond crisis management and focus on future planning, investment, recruitment, and training. But this recovery also presents a challenge: converting order volume into sustainable profitability. Operational agility, cost control, and reliable execution will be crucial.

The old: a source of growth for the territories

The scheme is not limited to new construction. By making tax benefits conditional on work representing 30% of the property's value (or even 20%), the State creates a massive incentive for renovation.

For tradespeople, construction companies, and building material suppliers, this represents an opportunity for sustainable growth across the country. Energy-efficient renovation is thus becoming a driver of local activity, capable of supporting local employment and maintaining economic momentum in both high-demand areas and less densely populated regions.

Simplify to produce, structure to last

The desire to simplify standards and bring decision-making closer to the ground is a recognition of the builders' expertise. Less administrative complexity means more time for production.

But the ambition to deliver 50.000 private rental units per year and to support homeownership through a widespread zero-interest loan is putting the sector under pressure. To produce more without sacrificing margins, the sector must take a significant step: to structure itself sustainably, professionalize its organizations, and equip itself to manage performance in a constrained environment.

A new contract of trust to be formalized

The Housing Recovery Plan gives new prospects to a strategic sector. It lays the foundations for a pact of trust between the State and builders: visibility, stability, continuity.

The housing revival is not just a social response: it is a major economic, industrial, and territorial issue. Today, it is one of the keys to the country's productive sovereignty.

Orisha Construction is participating in the ConstructionTech Village at BIM World 2026 on April 1st and 2nd, 2026.

In line with ongoing discussions about the housing recovery and transformation of the sector, Orisha Construction's presence at BIM World 2026 offers a concrete opportunity to continue these exchanges and move from vision to action. By bringing together manufacturers, startups, experts, and practitioners, this event will provide a platform to share operational solutions for addressing current building challenges: the economic performance of projects, environmental transition, and the digitalization of practices. The Orisha Construction teams will welcome visitors to the heart of the Startup Village to discuss the issues of renovation, innovation, and collaboration that are shaping the buildings of tomorrow.

Opinion piece by Cyril Perrin, Executive Managing Director and CSO of Orisha Construction (LinkedIn).