Sustainable housing development : a City of Cape Town project evaluation

Date
2013-12
Authors
Botha, Melissa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis reports on an evaluative study of the sustainability of housing development by the City of Cape Town with the Witsand, Atlantis, housing project as case study to empirically measure such sustainability. The study was attempted to determine how the City of Cape Town has planned for and implemented sustainability measures and what the results were in the Witsand project. The research therefore determined to what extent the expressed policy intent of sustainability housing delivery was implemented successfully in Witsand in terms of output and outcomes. The objectives of this study included outlining a theoretical and analytical framework for sustainable development as prescribed in the National, Provincial and Local Government policies and relevant legislation. An evaluative case study is provided, describing how the City of Cape Town implemented its policy in practice. This housing project was chosen because it is claimed to be the first large-scale integrated sustainable housing project in South Africa. The research methodology entailed an analysis of relevant literature, policies, legislation and project design documentation. In addition, the field work utilised a semi-structured mixed questionnaire for conducting interviews with the Project Manager, community development worker and a sample of residents. The research found that the City of Cape has followed the sustainability blueprint as far as their means allowed. The satisfaction level of the community is high. It was found, however, that the people, even though they received houses that were designed and constructed to take full advantage of the environment without harming it; lack the knowledge to maintain sustainable, energy conserving living. This indicates that sustainability in low income housing is not only a matter of design and technology, but also of instilling a particular behaviour amongst beneficiaries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis voer ‘n evaluering studie van die volhoubaarheid van behuising deur die Stad Kaapstad by die Witsand, Atlantis projek, wat as ‘n gevallestudie om sodanige volhoubaarheid empiries te meet, gedien het. Die studie is onderneem om te bepaal hoe die Stad Kaapstad volhoubaarheidsmaatreëls beplan en geïmplementeer het, en wat die resultate van die Witsand projek was. Die navorsing het dus bepaal tot watter mate die uitdruklike beleidsvoornemens vir die lewering van volhoubare huisverskaffing in terme van uitset en uitkomste suksesvol in Witsand geïmplementeer is. Die doelstellings van hierdie studie het die skets van ‘n teoretiese en analitiese raamwerk vir volhoubare ontwikkeling, soos in Nasionale, Provinsiale en Plaaslike beleid en toepaslike wetgewing voorgeskryf, ingesluit. ‘n Evaluerende gevallestudie wat beskrywe hoe die Stad Kaapstad se beleid prakties uitgevoer is, word voorsien. Hierdie projek is gekies vanweë die aanspraak dat dit die eerste grootskaalse geïntegreerde volhoubare projek vir huisverskaffing in Suid-Afrika was. Die navorsingsmetodologie het ‘n ontleding van toepaslike literatuur, beleid, wetgewing en gedokumenteerde projekontwerp behels. Daarbenewens het die veldwerk gebruik gemaak van ’n gemengde semi-gestruktureerde vraelys vir onderhoude met die Projekbestuurder, gemeenskapsontwikkeling werker en ‘n steekproef van die inwoners. Die navorsing het bevind dat die Stad Kaapstad die bloudruk vir volhoubaarheid sover as die stad se middele kon toelaat, gevolg het. Die bevredigingsvlak van die gemeenskap is hoog. Daar is egter gevind dat die mense, ten spyte daarvan dat hulle van huise voorsien is wat ontwerp en gebou is om sonder enige skade aan die omgewing ten volle daaruit voordeel te trek, kennis ontbreek om op volhoubare wyse en met besparing van energie te lewe. Dit dui daarop dat volhoubaarheid in lae-inkomste behuising nie maar net ‘n kwessie van ontwerp en tegnologie is nie, maar ook vereis dat ‘n bepaalde soort gedrag onder die begunstigdes gevestig moet word.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Housing development -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Sustainable urban development -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Housing policy -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Dissertations -- Public management and planning, Theses -- Public management and planning
Citation