Affordable Housing as a Catalyst for Sustainable Regional Development: An Interdisciplinary Framework for Inclusive Urban Growth

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation, widening housing deficits, and uneven regional development continue to threaten sustainable urban transformation, particularly within rapidly urbanising developing economies. This study examines affordable housing as a strategic instrument for sustainable regional development through interdisciplinary collaboration between architecture and urban and regional planning. Using a PRISMA-based systematic review, 519 records were identified from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, of which 55 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2016 and 2026 met the inclusion criteria. Policy reports from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change further supported the review. The study employed thematic synthesis, Weighted Frequency Index analysis, regression modelling, and inferential validation derived from coded thematic aggregation and evidence-pattern extraction within the reviewed studies. Quantitative synthesis produced regression outcomes (R² = 0.67) and inferential validation results (χ² = 0.91, p > 0.05; κ = 0.84), indicating strong thematic consistency and analytical reliability. Findings show that integrated housing and planning systems improve urban inclusiveness by 31.4%, reduce spatial inequality by 26.8%, and enhance regional productivity by 24.7%, while fragmented urban growth intensifies environmental and infrastructure pressures. The study contributes to a systems-oriented interdisciplinary framework linking affordable housing, governance coordination, infrastructure integration, and environmental sustainability toward more resilient and inclusive urban development.