Understanding the Critical Barriers to Implementing Sustainable Development Principles in Housing Project Delivery in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Housing is integral to human existence and development and is core to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Recently, SDGs have dominated discourse in built environments globally. However, in Nigeria and particularly in the study area, the effects of these discussions and research have yet to yield the desired results. Therefore, this study examines the barriers to applying SD principles in Housing Project Delivery in Anambra state, Nigeria. Being survey research, the study used a questionnaire to source data for the study. 78 questionnaires were administered while 62 questionnaires were returned and validated for analysis. Analysis of the data employed descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Particularly, arithmetic mean and standard deviation were used to estimate the behaviour of the data series while the principal component method of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was utilized in assessing and extracting the key barriers of Sustainable Development (SD) Principles in Housing Project Delivery in Anambra State. The choice of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method of EFA was because of its capacity to remove severe autocorrelation from the data series and then, produce stable and reliable orthogonal results which in this case, was used for Sustainable Development (SD) Principles in Housing Project Delivery in Anambra State. The study found that key constraints to SDP application in housing are the lack of legislation/enforcement/monitoring by government agencies and lack of awareness of the perceived benefits of SD to the end-users; which have significantly affected the application of SDP in Housing Project Delivery. The s concluded by recommending that an integrative approach/framework that will involve all the key stakeholders in the construction industry with appropriate legislation and legal backing be developed and religiously enforced and monitored with appropriate education and training on the importance and needs of SD to the end-users in the study area.