Cluster Home Developments In Low density Areas in Harare: A Case Study of Greendale, Harare, Zimbabwe

Authors

  • Danayo Olivia Mukurazhizha
  • Shamiso Hazel Mafuku

Keywords:

cluster housing, densification, property values, infrastructure, development

Abstract

Several Harare‟s low-density residential areas in Zimbabwe are fast
changing due to densification initiatives in the form of cluster
housing and garden flats. The increased developments that changed
the face of Greendale in Harare were mainly through Local Plan 56,
which permitted land-use change and promoted densification of large
stands in the area and this resulted in an increased population. The
article, therefore, seeks to assess the impacts of cluster housing
developments on property values and neighbourhood character in
areas initially zoned as low density. It assesses the extent to which
existing infrastructure and services suffice the residents‟ needs
concerning the new demands of densification in the form of cluster
housing. The study explores the perceptions of residents to examine
the knowledge and attitudes of developers, values and other real
estate professionals regarding cluster development and proffers
optimal options for cluster housing development. The study
employed a mixed-methods approach where both qualitative and
quantitative data were used. Overall, it is noted that most urban
development in the 21st century is characterised by a drift toward
promoting compact and self-sustained cities as opposed to the
sprawled and dispersed ones.

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Published

2022-06-23