Demolition of Prefabricated Panel Houses in Luoyang: Not All Will Be Demolished
Not all prefabricated panel houses in Luoyang will be demolished; instead, they will undergo renovation and transformation. Details of the specific policies and implementation are as follows:
Renovation and Transformation as the Main Approach, with Full Demolition Not Being the Norm
The '15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal' issued by the State Council in May 2026 clearly proposes to 'steadily advance the renovation and transformation of prefabricated panel houses', planning to renovate more than 500,000 sets (units) of C- and D-grade dangerous housing, prefabricated panel houses, and non-complete housing. This policy indicates that the governance direction for prefabricated panel houses focuses on renovation rather than full demolition. Renovation measures include repair and reinforcement, reconstruction, renovation, or original-site reconstruction, aiming to enhance housing safety and living quality while avoiding resource waste and social impacts caused by large-scale demolition.
Strictly Limited Demolition Scope with Clear Regulations on the Demolition-to-Construction Ratio
The 'Notice on Further Supporting Urban Renewal Actions' jointly issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in January 2026 imposes strict restrictions on the demolition scope: within a single urban renewal unit, the demolished floor area shall, in principle, not exceed 20% of the current total floor area, and the demolition-to-construction ratio of the project shall not exceed 2. This regulation means that even if some prefabricated panel houses need to be demolished, their scale must be kept within a relatively small range, and the newly constructed area after demolition shall not exceed twice the original area to prevent overdevelopment.
Demolition Based on Safety Appraisal Reports with Graded Treatment
Whether to demolish prefabricated panel houses is mainly based on housing safety appraisal reports issued by qualified institutions. According to the 'Standards for the Appraisal of Dangerous Houses' (JGJ 125 - 2016), houses are classified into four grades: A, B, C, and D:
- A and B grades: The structure is safe or basically safe, requiring no demolition but only routine maintenance.
- C grade: Some load-bearing structures do not meet safety requirements, posing local hazards. Such houses can undergo measures such as repair and reinforcement, reconstruction, renovation, or original-site reconstruction. Whether to demolish them shall be determined based on specific circumstances and residents' wishes.
- D grade: The load-bearing structure has been severely damaged, and the entire house is in danger. Such houses 'shall be demolished as much as possible' to ensure public safety.
In conclusion, the governance of prefabricated panel houses in Luoyang focuses on renovation, with demolition only targeting C- and D-grade dangerous housing and strictly adhering to safety appraisals and proportional restrictions. Residents can have their housing safety grades appraised by professional institutions to understand specific governance plans.
