The State Duma has approved a bill allowing Moscow residents living in buildings slated for renovation to be relocated to different districts within the city. The legislation, concerning integrated territorial development (ITD) and effectively functioning as a renovation program, has been under consideration for two and a half years.

The bill grants the authorities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sevastopol the autonomy to decide where residents of Khrushchev-era buildings will be relocated.

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing and Communal Services, Sergei Kolunov, stated that the aim is to provide residents with comfortable options, whether in areas with better infrastructure or locations near their previous homes. The amendment caters to residents, particularly the elderly, who prefer to remain in familiar surroundings while upgrading to more comfortable apartments.

The legislation also addresses ongoing projects, stating that if a territory planning project was approved before changes to urban planning, it will proceed under the original rules. Adjustments to city plans in such cases can be made without public discussions or hearings.

Moscow’s housing renovation program, active since 2017, includes over 5,000 houses. According to the capital’s government, residents of 954 apartment buildings have already been moved to new housing.