Demolition of Prefabricated Panel Houses
By 2026, the demolition of prefabricated panel houses will primarily be based on safety appraisal results and urban planning needs, focusing on four main categories: dilapidated houses, those with inadequate disaster resilience, those conflicting with infrastructure development, and those requiring renewal in urban core areas. Details are as follows:
I. Prefabricated Panel Houses Appraised as Dilapidated (Especially Grade D)
According to safety grading, Grade D dilapidated houses refer to those with foundation subsidence and systemic damage to the main structure (such as wall and beam-slab connections), where minor repairs cannot address fundamental issues, and repair costs are high with significant construction difficulties. Such houses, posing a direct threat to the safety of the entire building, are typically prioritized for demolition and reconstruction, expropriation and renovation, or original-site reconstruction. For example, Changcheng Jiaoyuan in Chengnan Subdistrict, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City, as the first self-renewal pilot for prefabricated panel housing communities, initiated large-scale demolition in September 2024 due to severe building aging, with plans to complete the demolition of all buildings and site leveling.
Grade C dilapidated houses, on the other hand, primarily involve localized hazards. If hazards can be eliminated through reinforcement and repair, reinforcement and renovation may be prioritized; however, if the building is severely aged, has concentrated functional defects, and residents have a unified willingness for renovation, it may also proceed with reconstruction.
II. Houses with Inadequate Disaster Resilience and Significant Safety Hazards
Some prefabricated panel houses, designed in earlier eras with low structural strength, have inadequate earthquake and flood resilience, making them highly vulnerable during earthquakes or floods. Although these houses may not meet the criteria for dilapidated status, they may be included in demolition or renovation plans due to high public safety risks, aiming to enhance the city's overall disaster resilience.
III. Houses Conflicting with Urban Infrastructure Development
If prefabricated panel houses are located within the planning control areas for subway construction, road widening, bridge construction, and other urban infrastructure projects, demolition is often unavoidable to ensure project progress. Such demolitions are guided by planning needs and represent necessary adjustments for urban development.
IV. Renewal of Inefficient Buildings in Urban Core Areas
In urban core areas, some prefabricated panel houses, characterized by low building density and outdated functions, do not match regional development needs. If renewal can achieve functional optimization and intensive land use, and if development revenues can cover renovation costs, such houses may be included in demolition and reconstruction plans. However, this process requires a balanced consideration of market interests and public interests, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.
Apart from the four categories mentioned above, the vast majority of prefabricated panel houses will continue to be used through old-community renovations (such as reinforcement, repair, and functional upgrades) rather than direct demolition. Specific policies need to be determined based on local planning, safety appraisal results, and resident preferences.
