France Unveils Ambitious 2 Million Housing Units Plan by 2030 to Combat Crisis

On January 23, 2026, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced an ambitious national housing initiative aimed at constructing two million new homes by 2030, equivalent to building 400,000 homes annually. This marks a substantial increase from the current average annual construction of around 300,000 units. Lecornu emphasized the urgency of the housing crisis in France, declaring it a matter that cannot be postponed until the 2027 presidential debate, comparing its importance to national sovereignty issues like energy.

The plan, labeled by Lecornu as one of the most radical in recent years, focuses on revitalizing both housing construction and renovation. It calls for increased flexibility in housing policies and enhanced collaboration between social and private housing sectors, as well as between urban and rural communities. A key component is unprecedented financial support for social landlords, incorporated into the 2026 budget, to stimulate social housing availability.

Moreover, the government intends to replace the current Pinel investment scheme with a new rental investment program, potentially named after Housing Minister Vincent Jeanbrun. This new scheme aims to encourage rental property investment, estimated to create an additional 50,000 homes annually and generate over 500 million euros in tax revenue. The plan also advocates for simplifying real estate project processes by engaging local officials and construction industry stakeholders to accelerate development.

Lecornu highlighted the significance of mobilizing French savings toward rental investments to fuel the housing market. He further called on parliamentarians to set aside political differences to reach a consensus on addressing housing challenges, acknowledging that housing affects all political representatives.

This housing plan represents a bold strategy to alleviate France's persistent housing shortage by ramping up production, enhancing financial incentives, and streamlining project delivery.