Altarea takes 100% control of Woodeum, the French market leader in low-carbon housing

While the construction industry generates nearly a quarter of France’s CO2 emissions, the technologies developed by Woodeum, notably using solid wood, mean it is already constructing buildings that meet RE2020 regulatory thresholds for 2028 and 2031. The Woodeum acquisition forms part of the low-carbon strategy pursued by the Altarea Group, which has defined carbon impact reduction trajectories for each of its brands by 2030.

This deal will give Woodeum greater financial and operational resources and create synergies with the other Altarea Group brands, enabling it to:

• strengthen its research and development strand, a core part of its DNA as a developer-engineer;
• expand its footprint across France to become a nationwide brand;
• continue its growth trend, aiming to ultimately increase its output by around 2,000 homes per year.

Woodeum’s management team and organisational structure will remain unchanged. Julien Pemezec, CEO of Woodeum, joins Altarea’s Executive Committee.

Alain Taravella, Altarea Group Chairman and Founder, said: “First of all, I have to salute the massive achievement of Guillaume Poitrinal and Philippe Zivkovic who, together with Julien Pemezec, have pioneered timber construction in France. They had the vision to use specialist engineering to create a market-leading developer in low-carbon housing. They developed their business by successfully combining specific talents to build remarkable homes in wood, which have been hugely popular with their various customer groups, particularly politicians. The experience of working alongside Woodeum since 2019 and the in-depth understanding it has fostered, both of the company and of CLT solid wood construction, helped us decide to buy the remaining 50% of the company. We are delighted to welcome all Woodeum’s teams to Altarea.”

Jacques Ehrmann, Altarea Group CEO, added: “As a leader in the low-carbon residential market, Woodeum will fill out and enrich the Group’s residential offering. As with all its brands, Altarea will act as an incubator for Woodeum, allowing it to accelerate its development. This transaction underlines our ambition to develop a low-carbon property model that meets the expectations of regions and residents”.

Julien Pemezec, Woodeum CEO, said: “As a pioneer of low-carbon construction in France and now market leader with over 5,500 homes delivered or signed across France, Woodeum will be able to take its ambition to a national scale, confident in its unique track record in the market. We are happy to join the Altarea Group and we share their culture of innovation, agility and commitment to the low-carbon city.”

Woodeum key figures:

• Founded in 2014
• Nearly 80 employees, a third of whom are engineers and technicians specialising in timber construction
• Over 5,500 homes delivered or signed, representing nearly €1.8 billion in revenues
• More than 3,000 homes under development across France
• 165,000 tonnes of carbon gain from developments delivered or signed
• 100% of developments certified BBCA, including 75% BBCA Excellent