Sec 2 GEOG 9

• Sustainable development of housing

  The management of housing in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Amenities that make life easier for residents

  • Grocery shops
  • Eateries
  • Markets for food
  • Clinics and hospitals
  • Nearby shops for goods and services
• Presence of communities


  • Community centres and playgrounds allow residents to get to know each other, make friends, and seek companionship within the neighbourhood
  • Interactions and community spirit fostered amongst neighbours leads to a sense of belonging and inclusivity in such housing developments
• Factors that affect sustainable management of housing

  • Functions that a city serves
  • Demographics of a city
  • Economic development of a city
  • Location of a city
• Integrated land use planning

  1. Different stakeholders (e.g., industries, planning authorities, commercial businesses, property developers) come together and develop, manage and coordinate their activities in a sustainable fashion

  2. Ensures economic, social environmental needs can better meet
• In areas where slums are prevalent, governments have adopted a strategy of enhancement rather than eviction and demolition as a sustainable way of improving housing conditions
• Provision of inclusive public housing


  • Ensures that all of the urban population can have access to housing that meets their varying needs
  • Ensures that housing developments can cater to people of all ages and physical conditions and make them feel at ease in their housing estates
• Environmental features in buildings

  • Use of solar panels to offset electrical consumption of common lighting
  • Water-efficient fittings to minimise water consumption
  • Use of green roofs and walls to reduce surrounding temperatures
• By improving the conditions of slums, the occupants are also motivated to invest in their own homes and make improvements to community infrastructure
• Better access to clean water and sanitation services raise health levels and reduces the threat of diseases to the people living in slums
• Slums often run contrary to long term city development plans since informal housing is built on plots of land not intended for housing use, leading to problems for the city in the future
• The crime rates, unemployment and the stigmatisation of those living in slums still remain the same even after improvements