ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS THAT AFFECTS THE AESTHETICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES OF AWKA TOWN, ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

The aesthetics and environmental quality in terms of the arrangement and maintenance of the physical and social facilities of the land use that traditionally make up the environment of Awka town is far from the prescribed standards and they do not conform to urban planning, principles and standards as a result of the rapid rate of urbanization. The rapid rate of urban growth and expansion which is majorly uncontrolled as a result of poor development control coupled with influx of in-migrants has considerably affected the aesthetic environmental quality of various land use types in Awka town. This research assessed the factors that affects the aesthetics of Awka town and how noncompliance to building standards set by Anambra State Physical Planning Board affected the aesthetics of the environment in residential areas of Awka Town. Three major areas were selected for the study which included Amaenyi, Agu Awka and Ifite Awka. A total of 399 questionnaires were shared randomly among the respondents in the area studied, which included both landlords and tenants. The results were analysed using some analytical tools like Likert Weighted Mean Score, Mean, Standard Deviation and Simple Regression Statistics. The study found out that factors such as poor housing design, encroachment of commercial activities into residential areas have serious negative impact on aesthetics of Awka town. The study concluded that factors such as aesthetic degradation, loss of landscape harmony, visual cluster and congestion result from non-compliance to planning standard in Awka town set by the Anambra State physical planning board. Furthermore, the study recommended that there is need for the government to address the issue of non-compliance to planning standard in Awka town and ensure all buildings in the residential areas adhere to the building standard set by the State physical planning board.

Keywords: Aesthetics, Environmental Quality, non- compliance, planning standards, residential land uses.