French delegate: Prioritizing speed over quality in construction risks billion-dollar costs

Affordable housing is impossible without sustainability, and focusing solely on rapid construction in the future could result in billions of dollars in costs to correct mistakes, French ministerial delegate for sustainable cities Yves-Laurent Sapoval said during a panel discussion at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

According to Report, Yves-Laurent Sapoval said that housing quantity and quality should not be treated as opposing goals.

"Sustainability means long-term affordability," he emphasized.

He noted that global experience shows that rapid responses to housing shortages without adequate quality standards and long-term planning can lead to serious economic and social consequences.

As an example, he referred to post-war France, where large-scale housing construction later required massive investments in renovation.

"After World War II, France had to allocate around €75 billion to renovate homes and entire districts built without sufficient quality and long-term planning," he said.

The French delegate stressed that providing affordable housing cannot be left entirely to market mechanisms and the private sector, adding that the state must play a key role in both housing policy and sustainable urban infrastructure financing.

He also highlighted the importance of an integrated urban development approach, where housing is considered together with transport accessibility, energy efficiency, social infrastructure, and overall urban quality.