Alsaeed, M., Hadjri, K., & Nawratek, K., (2024). Exploring the building blocks of sustainable social housing frameworks. In: Madrazo, L. (Ed.). Proceedings of the RE-DWELL Conference 2024 - Sustainable Living, Affordable Homes: Meeting the Challenge Together (pp. 57-64). Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain.

The nexus between housing and sustainability is a multi-layered discourse often characterised by its ambiguity and complexity (Matthews, 2016). The realisation of large-scale, sustainable social housing projects is therefore associated with various challenges which require a comprehensive and systematic approach that transcends disciplinary boundaries. At the centre of this approach are frameworks that serve as fundamental constructs for planning and decision-making processes (Moghayedi et al., 2021). These frameworks embody a structured system of rules and ideologies that act as a supportive scaffold on which decisions are formulated. They also facilitate the formulation of standardised practices, principles, and detailed operational guidelines for sustainable housing provisions.
The development of a robust framework, regardless of its nature, requires the definition of a core set of pillars with careful attention to their structuring, organisation and interlinkage Furthermore, these pillars are crucial in addressing real-world challenges that arise from both theoretical and practical perspectives in the delivery of sustainable social housing. To this end, the parameters that define social housing and sustainable housing frameworks are first examined through an exploratory literature review. Then, the challenges associated with the delivery of sustainable housing are identified through a synthesis of literature and semi-structured interviews with housing associations, designers, and sustainability specialists.
A trilogy of pillars needed for the development of sustainable social housing frameworks is proposed; this is established around three thematic areas: Sustainability and its dimensions, social housing processes and perceptions, and the roles and responsibilities of public authorities. It is important to note that while this mapping represents a first step for housing researchers and industry professionals seeking to develop operational frameworks for sustainable social housing projects, it is not itself a framework. Instead, it lays the foundation for a common understanding of future sustainable social housing frameworks.