Delivering Sustainable Affordable Housing in South Africa: Time, Cost, and Quality Constraints

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of time, cost and quality on the delivery of sustainable, affordable housing in South Africa. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. This study employs purposive sampling to select 300 survey participants. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed electronically to construction practitioners. Due to Covid-19 lockdown requirements that coincided with data collection. However, only 101 respondents completed and returned the survey electronically, accounting for 33.67% of the response rate. Descriptive statistics and content analyses were used to analyse both the quantitative and qualitative data. Findings: The statistical test results showed no significant differences across professions and no significant effects of construction constraints on the implementation of planning techniques for achieving sustainable, affordable housing. This implies that there are no significant statistical differences in the ratings of variables with respect to time, cost, and quality constraints across professions, including architects, real estate professionals, quantity surveyors, and consultants. Research Limitation: This study on balancing time, cost, and quality constraints in delivering sustainable, affordable housing projects is limited by geographic constraints and heterogeneity in local rules and market conditions, which may affect the generalisability of the findings. Practical Implication: The study on managing time, cost, and quality constraints in the execution of sustainable, affordable housing projects has important implications for a range of stakeholders. Social Implication: Policymakers should leverage the findings to develop more efficient regulatory frameworks and allocate resources more strategically, thereby fostering an environment conducive to sustainable construction. Originality/Value: This research addresses a key gap by examining the unique challenges at the intersection of sustainability and affordability in housing development, offering new approaches that advance broader social, economic, and environmental goals.