Taxonomy of Driving Forces Behind Exclusive Residential Developments in South African Cities

The phenomenon of exclusive residential developments has gained substantial attention in the context of South African cities, where urbanisation and socioeconomic disparities have shaped the built environment in unique ways. This study, therefore, delves into the taxonomy of driving forces that underpin the proliferation of exclusive residential developments within these urban centres. The aim is to present results of a study that sought to examine the driving forces behind the growth of exclusive residential developments. Drawing from a literature review and a quantitative inquiry approach, primary data was also collected from 109 built environment professionals. Descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used to supplement this. According to the descriptive analysis utilising the mean score (MS) ranking technique, the perception among potential residents that exclusive residential communities provide a safer living environment was one of the higher up-front driving forces for exclusive residential developments. Additionally, there is a good chance that these developments may increase in value. Furthermore, the EFA revealed that the underlying grouped factors for exclusive development were: ‘free market capitalism’; ‘safety and security’; ‘local demand’; ‘PPP’; ‘affordability’; and ‘profit seeking’. These findings suggest that if housing costs rise, the average citizen may not be able to afford them due to the emphasis on maximising profits over affordability. Safety and security precautions can create a sense of exclusivity and seclusion in these communities, possibly cutting them off from the larger local community and affecting local demand for goods and services outside the community's borders.