Prefabricated Houses in Shanxi

The renovation of prefabricated panel houses in Taiyuan, Shanxi, mainly adopts the approach of 'original demolition and original reconstruction,' which requires meeting conditions related to safety, building age, planning, residents' willingness, and funding. There is strong policy support, and successful cases have already emerged.

I. Current Situation and Urgency of Renovation for Prefabricated Panel Houses in Shanxi

In Shanxi, especially in Taiyuan, there is a large number of prefabricated panel houses built in the 1970s and 1980s, with building ages generally exceeding 40 years and some approaching 50 years. Due to the limitations of construction standards at that time, these houses have issues such as low seismic resistance and poor structural stability. After long-term use, phenomena like wall cracking and roof leakage frequently occur. They have been identified by professional institutions as Grade C (partially dilapidated) or Grade D (entirely dilapidated) dangerous houses. As of the end of 2025, there are 7,291 dilapidated and old houses in the six urban districts of Taiyuan, with a very high proportion of prefabricated panel houses, making renovation an urgent need.

II. Policy Support and Renovation Goals

1. Collaboration between Central and Local Policies:

   • The central government requires prioritizing the renovation of Grade D dangerous houses and prefabricated panel houses built before 2000 from 2025 to 2027, with a comprehensive conclusion by 2030.
   • Shanxi has introduced the Regulations on Urban Renewal in Shanxi Province (to be implemented in May 2026), explicitly supporting the demolition and reconstruction of dangerous housing.
   • Article 20 of the Regulations on Urban Renewal (Draft for Solicitation of Comments) in Taiyuan proposes steadily promoting the renovation of dangerous housing, supporting the self-renovation and original demolition and reconstruction of old housing, and simplifying the approval process: For reconstruction within the original land area without changing the planning and not exceeding the original legal building area, there is no need to repeat the land use procedures, and planning and construction permits can be directly obtained.

2. Renovation Models and Cases:

   • The main model is 'demolition at the original site, construction at the original site, and residents' relocation back,' such as the original demolition and reconstruction of Building 1 and Building 2 (Grade D dangerous houses) in the Shanyang dormitory of the Xiayuan Subdistrict, Wan柏林 District, Taiyuan, which started in April 2026 with a construction period of about 12 months and is expected to be handed over in June 2027.

III. Conditions for Inclusion in 'Original Demolition and Original Reconstruction'

1. Safety Compliance: Identified as Grade C or Grade D dangerous houses by professional institutions.
2. Building Age Compliance: Built before 2000, with priority given to the renovation of prefabricated panel houses over 25 years old.
3. Unchanged Planning: Demolition and reconstruction at the original site without changing the land use nature and not exceeding the original building area.
4. Residents' Consent: The consent rate of residents in the building needs to be ≥90% (meeting the standards in terms of both the number of people and the area).
5. Funding Availability: The self-raised funds of the property unit or residents are in place, and the government provides appropriate subsidies.

IV. Significance and Prospects of Renovation

Through 'original demolition and original reconstruction,' the renovation of prefabricated panel houses in Taiyuan, Shanxi, not only resolves housing safety hazards but also improves residents' living conditions while preserving the original community structure. Policy support and simplified approval procedures have facilitated the renovation, and more old residential areas are expected to achieve renewal through this model in the future.