On Land Development Practice and Urban Environmental Degradation: The Example of BDPA Estate in Benin City

Abstract

Sustainable and resilient urban environments are created by fitting environmental practices. One important area of practice is land development where the guidance of regulatory authorities and the compliance of developers together work to shape the built environment. Where this partnership does not exist or is not effective, inappropriate land development practices may result, with the potential to generate environmental degradation, particularly where there is a high intensity of land use. Thus, this paper investigates how the built environment may be impacted by land development and management practices. The issue is examined in the context of Benin City’s BDPA highly populated residential estate where signs of physical environmental degradation are becoming evident. The research approach involves physical inspections and secondary data review. The features of land development practice in the estate are ascertained; evidence gathered on their impact upon the physical environment and responsibility for these deficits established between individual developers and the regulatory authority. The findings reveal that acts of commission and omission at the official and developer levels contribute to physical environmental degradation. Official regulation and enforcement are weak; and awareness of planning regulations low amongst private developers. The outcome has been non-compliant and environmentally-unfriendly development. Again, government, has been negligent by not building sustainable paved roads and drainage channels. The conclusion is that a strong nexus exists between land development practices and physical environmental degradation in the study area. It is recommended that further physical degradation be arrested by rectification of the identified deficiencies and the institution of safeguards.