The European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois) is calling for a major expansion of timber construction as part of a structural response to Europe's housing crisis.
In its submission to the European Commission's consultation on the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act, CEI-Bois stresses that increasing housing supply must remain the central priority, supported by sustainable and industrially competitive solutions.
© CEI-Bois
According to the organisation, the current housing shortage is primarily driven by insufficient supply, requiring scalable construction approaches. Timber-based building methods, it argues, offer a viable pathway to accelerate the delivery of affordable, high-quality housing while contributing to the EU's climate goals.
The consultation focuses on the role of public authorities in addressing housing pressure, including the impact of short-term rental markets, and aims to identify both immediate safeguards and long-term structural measures.
CEI-Bois highlights industrialised timber construction as a key enabler of faster, more efficient building processes. However, it also points to the need for a supportive regulatory environment to unlock its full potential.
To facilitate this transition, the organisation calls for streamlined permitting procedures, harmonised and modernised building codes, updated construction product standards, and the adoption of science-based sustainability assessment methodologies.
In addition, CEI-Bois emphasises that renewability should be recognised alongside recyclability within EU circular economy policies—an important consideration for timber as a renewable construction material.
Representing over 160,000 companies across 16 European countries, the wood industry body says it is ready to support the European Commission with practical and scalable solutions.
For the interiors and construction value chain, the push towards timber construction signals growing opportunities in wood-based materials, prefabrication systems and integrated design solutions. As policymakers look to address both housing shortages and environmental targets, timber is increasingly positioned as a strategic material in Europe's built environment.
More information:
CEI-Bois
[email protected]
www.cei-bois.org
