On September 18, Chen Shaowang, spokesperson and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the housing and urban–rural development sector will strive to achieve five key objectives: first, make significant progress in building modern, people-centered cities; second, further improve living standards for the general public; third, achieve notable results in upgrading and enhancing the quality of the construction industry; fourth, substantially strengthen China's global influence in the field of human settlements; and fifth, comprehensively consolidate the foundational support for high-quality development.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the housing and urban–rural development sector is facing a new landscape: urbanization is shifting from a phase of rapid growth to one of steady development; CityDev is transitioning from a stage of large-scale incremental expansion to one primarily focused on improving the quality and efficiency of existing stock. The supply-demand dynamics in the real estate market have undergone significant changes, marking the entry of real estate into the era of existing stock. Meanwhile, the construction industry is undergoing a transformation toward intelligence, green practices, and integration.
In advancing the quality improvement and upgrading of the construction industry, the key lies in delivering high‑quality construction products. The Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development will deepen reforms in the sector, strengthen oversight of quality and safety, standardize market order, and vigorously address irregularities in tendering and bidding as well as the problem of delayed payment of project funds.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, enhancing the living standards of the people hinges on building high-quality housing. This will be achieved by advancing the entire value chain and lifecycle—starting with stringent standards, superior design, premium materials, sound construction practices, and effective operation and maintenance. In response to public concerns about low floor heights, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development has raised the minimum floor height from the previous 2.8 meters to 3 meters. To address mobility challenges faced by elderly residents, the new standards mandate the installation of elevators in residential buildings four stories or higher. Furthermore, to improve child safety, the height of guardrails at all open‑air areas, such as balconies and exterior corridors, has been uniformly increased to no less than 1.2 meters.
Chen Shaowang stated that, in strengthening the foundational support for high-quality development, the key lies in consolidating the groundwork and bolstering underlying infrastructure. The Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development has formulated a work plan for digital housing and urban–rural development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, promoting the application of next-generation information technologies, such as artificial intelligence, across areas including smart cities, intelligent construction, and smart homes.