Exploring the relationship between ‘sites and services’ projects and urban adaptability. A case study of Charkop (Mumbai)

The ‘sites and services’ approach was conceived during the 1970s as a possible solution to tackle the issue of precarious housing in the global south. After providing land, infrastructures and services, the urban poor were allowed to incrementally build their dwellings. Despite initial criticism, the effectiveness of this approach has eventually been reconsidered. This paper aims to contribute to the long-lasting discussion on ‘sites and services’ projects by exploring their relationship with urban adaptability. Following the identification of the enabling conditions for adaptability at the neighbourhood scale, a fieldwork analysis has been conducted in the Indian neighbourhood of Charkop, located in the outskirts of Mumbai and first developed within a ‘sites and services’ programme. The results have shown that legal tenure, a hierarchical spatial plan aligned with the socioeconomic context, and a soft regulatory framework influenced by residents' associations and informal processes played a decisive role in the long-term project's success.