Success when we deemed it failure? Revisiting sites and services projects in Mumbai and Chennai 20 years later

Abstract Twenty years after the sites and services approach was largely abandoned by the World Bank, new evidence from India demonstrates that the projects were largely successful and achieved many sought after urban planning goals. Drawing on field visits, semi-structured interviews with residents and project officials, archival research and spatial analysis, we found that sites and service projects in Chennai and Mumbai had transformed into bustling and thriving communities over the last two decades. Contrary to past critiques, the incremental housing approach – where small serviced plots are developed and sold to low income households – had worked. This unique land product is not typically available in the formal sector and helped to broaden access to the housing market. However, the bigger success to emerge from these projects, is the creation of well-planned and well-serviced neighborhoods that are both livable and inclusive. This occurred because the incremental development process was coupled with neighborhood planning and the integration of mixed income households. Key design innovations included incorporating a range of plot sizes to reach different income groups, increasing density, developing a hierarchy of road and open space layouts, incorporating mixed use by allocating space for commerce and social services, and strategically selecting sites for connectivity to transport and economic activity. Lessons from these projects offer valuable tools and insights for planners as they guide growth to create more inclusive and livable cities.