Geographical Factors Shaping Residential Neighbourhood Preferences In Ilesa, Nigeria: A Sustainable Built Environment Perspective

Abstract

Residential neighbourhood preference reflects how households interpret the physical and cultural characteristics of the places they inhabit. In cities with diverse environmental conditions such as Ilesa, these decisions are often shaped by geographical realities that influence daily living and long-term settlement patterns. This study therefore examines the geographical factors shaping residential neighbourhood preferences among residents of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria, with the aim of identifying how these factors influence housing location decisions within the city’s residential structure. A descriptive survey design using a quantitative approach was adopted for the study, and data were obtained from 120 residents drawn from high, medium, and low density neighbourhoods through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on residents’ neighbourhood preferences and the geographical considerations underlying their housing choices. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentages. The findings reveal that geographical factors significantly influence residential decision-making across the study area. Variations in preference were observed across different residential density zones as well as across the city’s inner core, intermediate areas, and peripheral neighbourhoods. Among the most influential factors identified were proximity to road networks and attachment to ancestral heritage, both of which strongly shape how residents evaluate potential residential locations. The results further show that detached bungalow was the dominant preferred housing type (41.7%), followed by duplex (23.3%) and other housing forms (19.2%). The multinomial model was statistically significant, χ²(24, n = 120) = 73.70, p < .001, with a McFadden pseudo-R² of 0.216. Accessibility was the strongest predictor of duplex preference, followed by infrastructure and building quality. Density/location reduced the relative odds of preferring Afro-Brazilian housing, while socio-cultural/economic factors increased the likelihood of preferring other housing types. The findings suggest that sustainable housing planning in Ilesa should combine road connectivity, service infrastructure, building-quality standards and culturally responsive housing options.