Positive signals in the implementation of social housing construction

According to a report from the Department of Construction, in the period 2014-2021, Thanh Hoa province directed and organized the implementation and completion of 14 social housing projects and worker housing projects with a total floor area of ​​525,821m2, equivalent to about 5,478 apartments. This means that the province has taken the lead in implementing the Prime Minister's Project "Investing in the construction of at least 1 million social housing apartments for low-income earners and industrial park workers in the period 2021-2030".

The social housing project in Hoang Long Industrial Park (Thanh Hoa City) is being completed by the investor.

However, compared to the target by 2030 according to the project, the province must complete at least 13,787 social housing units, which is not an easy task. And to concretize this target, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a plan for implementation in phases: Construction of about 6,287 apartments in the period 2021-2025 and about 7,500 apartments in the period 2026-2030. From 2021 to now, in the province, there are 4 completed projects with about 2,200 apartments and by 2025, it is expected to complete about 4,200 apartments. Thus, compared to the target according to the investment phase of the period 2021-2025, Thanh Hoa has the basis to ensure the target, when there are 10 projects with about 8,748 apartments being actively directed for implementation.

However, in the period of 2026-2030, the implementation of the target under the Project "Investing in the construction of at least 1 million social housing apartments for low-income people and industrial park workers in the period of 2021-2023" will not be as convenient as the previous phase. Because the implementation of procedures to implement 14 social housing and worker housing projects as planned is facing many difficulties and obstacles.

Specifically, according to the Head of the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management (Department of Construction) Nguyen Manh Tuan, the implementation of social housing and workers' housing construction is a very humane policy. However, in terms of legal procedures, the procedural steps from the time of approval of the investment policy to the implementation of the social housing and workers' housing projects are no different from commercial housing and urban area projects. Normally, the time to carry out these procedural steps will take from 1 to 2 years. Many projects are stuck with other conditions such as the suitability of planning levels, plans, investment time to complete surrounding technical infrastructure (for social housing projects in commercial housing projects), site clearance... then the process and procedures from the time of planning to selecting an investor can take up to 5 years.

From 2021 to now, the province has 4 completed projects with about 2,200 apartments and by 2025 it is expected to complete about 4,200 apartments. Thus, compared to the target according to the investment phase of 2021-2025, Thanh Hoa has the basis to ensure the target, when there are 10 projects with about 8,748 apartments being actively directed for implementation.

Meanwhile, although exempted from land use fees and preferential loans with a reduction of 1.5% to 2% of loan interest rates, according to regulations on social housing projects, workers' housing still has to carry out procedures and land valuation procedures (according to regulations before the 2023 Housing Law takes effect and currently is land valuation for the 20% land area for commercial, service or housing construction in social housing projects), making the time to carry out investment procedures longer. In reality, implementing investment procedures, many projects are facing difficulties because the project location has not yet been approved for zoning plans. This is an objective reason, because the General Urban Construction Plan of Thanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa province until 2040 was just approved by the Prime Minister at the beginning of this year, it will take time to develop and approve zoning plans. This means that these projects must "wait" for investment policy approval.

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Tuan, during the appraisal process, some social housing projects encountered some changes in relevant legal regulations. Specifically, the conditions on construction density, investor capacity... were not sufficient to approve the investment policy, organize the selection of investors and implement the project. In addition, the recovery of 20% of land fund in commercial housing projects and urban areas for investment in social housing construction still encountered difficulties, because the investors had not completed the project's technical infrastructure...

In this context, Directive No. 34-CT/TW dated May 24, 2024 of the Central Party Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership over social housing development in the new situation (referred to as Directive 34) was issued, bringing many positive signals. After that, the Provincial Party Committee issued a plan to implement Directive 34, aiming to raise awareness and responsibility of Party committees at all levels, authorities, the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, cadres, Party members and people of all walks of life about the role, significance and importance of social housing development in the new situation. At the same time, it requires the implementation and organization to be serious, practical, effective and synchronous from the province to the grassroots; mobilizing the participation of all levels, local branches, units and people of all walks of life; establishing a provincial steering committee on social housing development and implementing housing support policies for policy beneficiaries. The Provincial People's Committee and directly Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Mai Xuan Liem have given drastic directions and solutions to synchronously implement contents from accelerating the progress of establishing and approving the zoning plan for site clearance, investing in technical infrastructure around the project as a basis for approving the investment policy, selecting investors to implement the project. At the same time, assigning specific tasks to each department, branch, and locality for each specific project to remove difficulties and obstacles to speed up the investment progress for projects being implemented. This is an important basis, a positive signal to accelerate the progress of social housing construction in the province.

Article and photos: Dong Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tin-hieu-tich-cuc-trong-trien-khai-xay-dung-nha-o-xa-hoi-229427.htm