Sustainability Indicators Assessment for Peri-Urban Housing Environment: A Review with Focus on Developing Nations and Ibadan, Nigeria

Author

Olugbenga Olufemi SOYEBO , Yunus Sulaiman , Khairat Adedoyin Raufu

Abstract

 Sustainability of the housing environment is a major challenge in developing countries because of rapid urbanization, unplanned peri-urban growth, inadequate infrastructure, socioeconomic inequalities and weak development control. This paper reviews some of the indicators for assessing housing environment sustainability in developing countries within the background of peri-urban Ibadan, Nigeria. The sustainability of the housing environment is understood as the capacity of residential areas to provide safe, healthy, affordable, accessible, inclusive, economically sustainable and environmentally resilient living conditions. 

The paper examines indicators in six dimensions: environmental quality, infrastructure, social well-being, economic viability, governance and climate resilience. These include sanitation, drainage, waste management, pollution, access to basic services, housing adequacy, residents’ welfare, institutional effectiveness, stakeholders’ participation and compliance with development control regulations. 

The review emphasizes the unsuitable use of generic sustainability assessment frameworks without considering the local realities, in particular socioeconomic conditions, institutional capacity, infrastructure deficiencies and environmental risks. The peri-urban Ibadan context shows the need for measurable, locally relevant indicators that incorporate residents’ perspectives along with physical, social, economic and governance factors. The paper therefore proposes a flexible and context-sensitive framework for assessing housing environment sustainability, supporting effective development control and promoting sustainable peri-urban development in Ibadan and similar cities. 

Keywords

Sustainable Housing Environments, Sustainability Indicators, Peri-Urban Development, Developing Countries, Ibadan, Nigeria.

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References

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