The role of home-based enterprises in housing consolidation

Evidence from two informal settlements in Khulna, Bangladesh

Bibliographic Data

ID12714447
AuthorsSumaiya Rahman Piashi (0000-0002-6028-5154, Sumaiya Rahman Piashi is Assistant Professor at Khulna University Ringgold standard institution – Architecture Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh, corresponding author), Anirban Mostafa (0000-0001-9632-3055, Anirban Mostafa is Professor at Khulna University Ringgold standard institution – Architecture Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh), Rabeya Sultana Leya (0000-0003-4115-2417, Rabeya Sultana Leya is Associate Professor at Khulna University Ringgold standard institution – Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Khulna Division 9208, Bangladesh)
Year2025
Volume47
Issue4
Pages373-401
Publication date2025-08-19
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Development Planning Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1474-6743 • E-ISSN: 1478-3401
PublisherLiverpool University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.3828/idpr.2025.16
OpenAlexW4413325260
LanguageEN
References cited29

Within the global South there is a widespread phenomenon of informal settlements in which dwellings are used not only for shelter but also for income-generating activities. The latter are referred to as home-based enterprises (HBEs). Many experts have recognised HBEs as a compelling strategy for supporting household subsistence through income generation while also facilitating the dweller-initiated housing consolidation. A clear nexus therefore persists between HBEs and housing consolidation, both of which are continuously evolving. Despite extensive research on HBEs, their influence on housing consolidation from a spatial-physical perspective has been under-explored. Addressing this gap within existent understanding, this paper examines HBE’s role in housing consolidation using two case studies of informal settlements in Khulna. In so doing it focuses on HBE typologies, investigates the extent of housing consolidation, and assesses residents’ preferences concerning the key factors that influence HBE-led housing consolidation. The findings of this mixed-method research reveal that HBEs play a crucial role in shaping housing consolidation, and that the extent of consolidation varies between the settlements, influenced by several economic, socio-political and spatial factors. The paper concludes by offering recommendations to policymakers and built-environment professionals with regards to integrating HBE practices into the spatial planning of housing. This article was published open access under a CC BY-NC-ND licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Archaeology · Business · Consolidation (business · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Human settlement · Informal settlements · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Urban and Rural Development Challenges · Urban Planning and Governance · Finance

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