Wooden houses are gaining ground, but they do not solve the housing shortage

The share of wooden new homes in the Netherlands has tripled in five years, driven by stricter CO2 reduction requirements. The use of solid wood in construction is gaining popularity, although traditional materials are also becoming more sustainable. The government aims for 30% of new homes to consist of biobased materials by 2030, promoting industrial wood construction for efficiency. However, the sector faces challenges in meeting housing demands, with a need for 73,000 workers in the next three years. While prefabrication offers opportunities, capacity issues and rising costs of wood remain significant hurdles.