A Systematic Review of Critical Barriers in Sustainability Attainment in Affordable Housing: A Case of India as a Developing Economy

Abstract:

Introduction:

Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) has emerged as a critical component of sustainable urban development keeping in consideration the rapid urbanisation with migration of the working class drastically towards the major urban centres and the seeking for affordability in habitation, thereby giving rise to housing deficits, environmental degradation, and socio-economic inequalities converge due to lack of social or sustainable housing equating the required demand. While affordable housing initiatives have expanded significantly over the past two decades with regard to the concerned phenomena of the rising need, the attainment of sustainability within such developments remains constrained by numerous critical barriers.

Methods:

This paper explores scholarly contributions published between 2005 and 2025 to identify and critically examine the barriers that impede the realization of sustainable affordable housing in developing economies. A total of 54 Articles were retrieved using PRISMA Systematic Review.

Results:

The review categorizes barriers into Policy, Governance and Institutional (PGIB), Financial and Economic (FEB), Land and Infrastructure (LIB), Market and Affordability (MAB), Technical and Technological (TTB), Social and Stakeholders (SSB), Environmental and Climate Resilience (ECB) and further derives 50 indicators under these identified 7 constructs to give comprehensive framework on hindrances of Sustainability attainment in the Affordable Housing Sector.

Conclusion:

From the derived attributes, there will be a possibility to explore further formulation or framework on the basis of the identified research gaps to promote policy reforms, innovative construction technologies, and collaborative stakeholder engagements.