The spatial planning system and housing development: Prospects and models

Abstract

Providing adequate and decent housing constitutes one of the biggest challenges of urban development, especially in countries such as Ghana with high levels of historical urbanization. This chapter examines the urban housing problem in Ghana in relation to spatial planning. It identifies the demand and supply-side challenges of the housing market and examines policy responses in the past. A key focus of this chapter is to explore ways of providing housing directly through Ghana’s spatial planning system. To this end, two models that are intended for application in securing land for new housing development and continuously generating housing supply through the urban development process are advanced. The theoretical principles behind the proposed housing development models required legislative backing and some practical implementation strategies are also discussed.