South Africa is plagued with a staggering housing backlog (estimated at approximately 2.1 million units at present) due, in part, to the poor planning principles advocated by the Apartheid regime. Concerted efforts were made by the newly elected government since 1994 to provide houses for the urban poor who were previously disadvantaged. As such, a subsidised housing scheme in South Africa was introduced as a method to provide adequate housing to citizens who could not afford to do so themselves. However, despite the construction of approximately 3 million dwellings over the past 19 years, the backlog today is larger than the initial backlog experienced in 1994. Two questions were therefore raised in this research: 1) Whether the current approach to subsidised housing provision is sustainable, given the socio-economic conditions present in South African cities and 2) Which planning principles could be applied with regards to subsidised housing in order to ensure the development of sustainable human settlements. In order to address these issues, research regarding sustainable human settlements, and the South African context in terms of housing provision, was done in the form of a literature review and empirical study. The literature reviewed shed light on (a) urban models, (b) the elements of sustainable human settlements, (c) policies and legislation relating to subsidised housing provision in South Africa and (d) the criticisms against the South African policies and the current method of subsidised housing provision in South Africa. Information gained during the literature review phase was used to compile a set of criteria by which housing provision for the urban poor could be evaluated. This evaluation took the form of an empirical study which consisted of structured questionnaires and interviews, and a comparative analysis of international and local pilot studies. The following subsidised housing projects were scrutinised to establish best practices that may be applied to the South African context: * Bairro Carioca and Taroni Condiminiums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, * Haram City in October 6 City, Egypt, * Cosmo City, South Africa, * Community Residential Units in Potchefstroom, South Africa, and * Reconstruction and Development Program Units in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Through the critical evaluation of the above mentioned projects, it became clear that the typical South African method of subsidised housing provision, in which beneficiaries receive a loose standing dwelling house on a single erf, is in fact unsustainable, and that this approach is not facilitating the formation of sustainable human settlements. Alternative methods of housing delivery that can be implemented in the South African context were identified and led to the formulation of planning related recommendations in terms of sustainable subsidised housing provision, focussing on (1) increased densities, (2) improved location and (3) providing a range of household types. Mention was also made of non-planning related recommendations such as (4) alternative services delivery, (5) including different forms of tenure and (6) increasing financial responsibility. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa is plagued with a staggering housing backlog (estimated at approximately 2.1 million units at present) due, in part, to the poor planning principles advocated by the Apartheid regime. Concerted efforts were made by the newly elected government since 1994 to provide houses for the urban poor who were previously disadvantaged. As such, a subsidised housing scheme in South Africa was introduced as a method to provide adequate housing to citizens who could not afford to do so themselves. However, despite the construction of approximately 3 million dwellings over the past 19 years, the backlog today is larger than the initial backlog experienced in 1994. Two questions were therefore raised in this research: 1) Whether the current approach to subsidised housing provision is sustainable, given the socio-economic conditions present in South African cities and 2) Which planning principles could be applied with regards to subsidised housing in order to ensure the development of sustainable human settlements. In order to address these issues, research regarding sustainable human settlements, and the South African context in terms of housing provision, was done in the form of a literature review and empirical study. The literature reviewed shed light on (a) urban models, (b) the elements of sustainable human settlements, (c) policies and legislation relating to subsidised housing provision in South Africa and (d) the criticisms against the South African policies and the current method of subsidised housing provision in South Africa. Information gained during the literature review phase was used to compile a set of criteria by which housing provision for the urban poor could be evaluated. This evaluation took the form of an empirical study which consisted of structured questionnaires and interviews, and a comparative analysis of international and local pilot studies. The following subsidised housing projects were scrutinised to establish best practices that may be applied to the South African context: * Bairro Carioca and Taroni Condiminiums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, * Haram City in October 6 City, Egypt, * Cosmo City, South Africa, * Community Residential Units in Potchefstroom, South Africa, and * Reconstruction and Development Program Units in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Through the critical evaluation of the above mentioned projects, it became clear that the typical South African method of subsidised housing provision, in which beneficiaries receive a loose standing dwelling house on a single erf, is in fact unsustainable, and that this approach is not facilitating the formation of sustainable human settlements. Alternative methods of housing delivery that can be implemented in the South African context were identified and led to the formulation of planning related recommendations in terms of sustainable subsidised housing provision, focussing on (1) increased densities, (2) improved location and (3) providing a range of household types. Mention was also made of non-planning related recommendations such as (4) alternative services delivery, (5) including different forms of tenure and (6) increasing financial responsibility. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is well known that South Africa has a major housing backlog and that the population is growing every year. Consequently, more people are left homeless, without the finances to acquire a minimum standard house. The official backlog in 2012 was defined as 2.1 million units, of which 1.1 million households lived in informal settlements in South Africa. The purpose of this study is to develop a multi-criteria assessment tool that will help a developer to choose between housing systems that can be used in low cost housing developments. Essentially, the tool will aid a developer to allocate funding more appropriately and effectively to develop sustainable communities. The research followed a procedure of identifying challenges experienced in the low cost housing industry, identifying the important factors to consider when assessing low cost housing systems and finally selecting a multi-criteria decision-making model to select a system. The important factors that need to be considered for this study were gathered from literature and industry experience through using the interviewing technique for data collection. The factors identified will be assessed using the multi-criteria decision-making model, called the Evidential Reasoning Approach. This study focuses on housing systems as a whole. Specific attention is given to walling systems, but not to other elements such as the foundations and roofs. The primary factors identified are cost, time, quality, environmental performance, density, alteration capability, resource availability and additional features. These factors were then used to develop a userfriendly assessment tool for choosing between housing systems for the low cost housing market. In conclusion this assessment tool will be available to public and private role players who intend to develop a low cost housing settlement. However, this assessment tool has some imperfections. These are discussed at the end of this study and show how they influence this model. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is algemeen bekend dat Suid-Afrika „n groot behuisings agterstand het en dat die bevolking jaarlikse groei. Die amptelike behuisings agterstand in 2012 was gedefinieer as 2.1 miljoen eenhede, waarvan meer as 1.1 miljoen van hierdie huishoudings in informele nedersettings in Suid-Afrika geleë is. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om „n mulit-kriteria assesserings instrument te ontwikkel wat „n ontwikkelaar sal help om tussen behuisings sisteme te kies, wat vir lae koste behuising ontwikkelings gebruik kan word. Gevolglik , sal hierdie instrument „n ontwikkelaar help om befondsing meer toepaslik toe te ken en om doeltreffende en volhoubare gemeenskappe te ontwikkel. Die navorsings prosedure het begin deur uidagings in die lae koste behuising bedryf te identifiseer, asook die belangrike faktore wat oorweeg moet word as behuisings stelsels beoordeel moet word. „n Multi-kriteria besluitnemings model is gekies wat toepaslik is op hierdie studie. Die belangrike faktore wat in ag geneem moet word, is geïdentifiseer deur literatuur, en industrie ondervinding, deur gebruik te maak van onderhoude om data in te samel. Die kriteria wat geïdentifiseer is sal beoordeel word met behulp van die multi-kriteria besluitnemings model, naamlik Evidential Reasoning Approach. Die kriteria wat gebuik is in hierdie studie het gefokus op die behuisings stelsel as ʼn geheel. Alhoewel spesifieke aandag gegee is aan die mure van die stelsels was ander elemente, soos die dakke en fondamente nie bespreek nie. Die primêre faktore wat geïdentifiseer is, is koste, tyd, kwaliteit, omgewings werkverrigting, digtheid, aanbouings vermoë, beskikbaarheid van hulpbronne en bykomende funksies. Hierdie faktore word gebruik om „n keuse te maak tussen behuisings stelsels vir die gebruik vin die lae koste behuising mark. Die faktore word voorgestel as „n gebruikers vriendelike assesserings instrument. Ten slotte behoort hierdie assesserings intrument beskikbaar te wees aan oopenbare en private belangstellendes wat beoog om „n lae kost behuising nedersetting te ontwikkel. Hierdie assesserings instrument het wel „n paar tekortkomming, wat aan die enide van die studie bespreek word, asook hoe hierdie terkortkomming die model kan beïnvloed.

In South Africa issues regarding the dissatisfactory delivery of low-cost housing developments are well known. Low-cost housing has generally been delivered in a manner which attempts to address housing backlogs, instead of focussing on establishing quality environments and sustainable communities. In order to address the current deficient approaches to low-cost residential development, a literature and empirical investigation was conducted with the purpose of exploring the South African status quo. Issues for improvement were researched within the existing knowledge base. The literature reviewed for this study encompassed government literature, policies and legislation as well as work from both national and international authors from a variety of fields, given the diverse nature and multiple impacts related to housing development. These literary works provided evidence to the conclusions drawn and informed the recommendations made accordingly. The empirical research conducted included several structured interviews, the distribution of questionnaires and the evaluation of various South African case studies. Empirical results added a quantitative measure to the evidence provided by the literature study and thus offered further conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations made were categorised according to their contribution to planning, management and design. It is believed that the adoption of these preliminary recommendations may greatly improve the housing delivery process and quality of life experienced by low-income beneficiaries. The issues covered in this study include research, conclusions and recommendations on: * Investigating the South African status quo with regard to housing policies and legislature. * Identifying the merits of historical theoretical models and their value in modern day housing development. * Discussing the importance of a locally focussed development approach with regard to the role of local municipalities versus provincial authorities in low-cost residential development. * Identifying the value of low-cost housing in local economic development and sustainable socio-economic growth. * Discussing the role of community participation in delivering sustainable neighbourhoods and communities. * Investigating the need for higher density development with specific reference to the integration of various housing typologies. * Exploring the relevance and benefits of alternative construction materials in low-cost residential development. * Exploring the informal backyard rental sector. * Exploring the approaches followed in South African case studies of varying successes in various provinces. It should be noted that the research conducted for this study, the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made provide substantial value, but are all mainly provided as preliminary concepts to be elaborated in a future PhD study. / Thesis (MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

In South Africa issues regarding the dissatisfactory delivery of low-cost housing developments are well known. Low-cost housing has generally been delivered in a manner which attempts to address housing backlogs, instead of focussing on establishing quality environments and sustainable communities. In order to address the current deficient approaches to low-cost residential development, a literature and empirical investigation was conducted with the purpose of exploring the South African status quo. Issues for improvement were researched within the existing knowledge base. The literature reviewed for this study encompassed government literature, policies and legislation as well as work from both national and international authors from a variety of fields, given the diverse nature and multiple impacts related to housing development. These literary works provided evidence to the conclusions drawn and informed the recommendations made accordingly. The empirical research conducted included several structured interviews, the distribution of questionnaires and the evaluation of various South African case studies. Empirical results added a quantitative measure to the evidence provided by the literature study and thus offered further conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations made were categorised according to their contribution to planning, management and design. It is believed that the adoption of these preliminary recommendations may greatly improve the housing delivery process and quality of life experienced by low-income beneficiaries. The issues covered in this study include research, conclusions and recommendations on: * Investigating the South African status quo with regard to housing policies and legislature. * Identifying the merits of historical theoretical models and their value in modern day housing development. * Discussing the importance of a locally focussed development approach with regard to the role of local municipalities versus provincial authorities in low-cost residential development. * Identifying the value of low-cost housing in local economic development and sustainable socio-economic growth. * Discussing the role of community participation in delivering sustainable neighbourhoods and communities. * Investigating the need for higher density development with specific reference to the integration of various housing typologies. * Exploring the relevance and benefits of alternative construction materials in low-cost residential development. * Exploring the informal backyard rental sector. * Exploring the approaches followed in South African case studies of varying successes in various provinces. It should be noted that the research conducted for this study, the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made provide substantial value, but are all mainly provided as preliminary concepts to be elaborated in a future PhD study. / Thesis (MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013