Wooden housing construction in Russia has increased by 60% since 2021

Since 2021, the volume of wooden housing commissioned in the country has increased from 10 to 17 million m². Experts attribute this growth to growing domestic demand for wood, especially in the Northwestern Federal District, where the timber industry is reorienting itself toward the domestic market. The Federation Council noted that these figures were achieved thanks to the consistent implementation of state support measures and the implementation of the roadmap for the development of wooden housing construction.

Starting March 1, 2025, standard wooden designs are permitted for the construction of apartment buildings and the relocation of residents from dilapidated housing. Restrictions on the number of storeys have been lifted, and CLT and laminated timber technologies allow for rapid construction in all weather conditions. According to industry representatives, a three-story building with 62 apartments can be assembled into a "warm contour" in three weeks. Moreover, these structures are lighter than reinforced concrete, reducing the load on the site and the need for equipment and labor.

Such solutions are already being used in northern regions. In Komi, Yakutia, and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, displaced residents are receiving apartments in wooden panel buildings. In Karelia, 30 post offices are planned to be built using such structures this year. In the Arkhangelsk Region, a pilot project for apartment buildings for the relocation of dilapidated housing is being developed. Experts note that such technologies are particularly in demand in the Arctic and the Far East, where wooden buildings provide a comfortable microclimate in low temperatures.

However, cost remains a limiting factor. The square meter in wooden buildings is often more expensive than alternative technologies due to logistics, the number of floors, and the high cost of high-quality panels and equipment, which is mainly imported. The Federation Council emphasized that current housing cost standards in resettlement programs do not always allow for the use of such solutions. Particular attention is being paid to the need to subsidize business expenses and affordable mortgage lending.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also considering a mechanism to support citizens purchasing prefabricated houses: a discount of up to 20% of the cost is proposed—up to 800,000 rubles. Market participants believe that the development of equipment production and the launch of new industrial timber construction plants could be key factors in accelerating the segment's growth.