Assessment of Building Coverage and Environmental Quality of Residential Area in Nkpor Uno Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to assess the building coverage and environmental quality of residential area in Nkpor Uno Idemili North L.G, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey design to find out level of compliance of buildings to planning regulations. One hundred and eighty (180) were interviewed using a modified instrument (questionnaire). The data collected were coded into SPSS and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results showed that 72(40%) reported inadequate setback as a major effect of over built buildings, 55(30.6%) reported inadequate free air space, 37(20.6%) said inadequate ventilation and lighting. Also, the nature of drainage system provided in residential areas; 76(42.2%) has no drainage system, 70(38.9%) has close drainage system. The building coverage of residential houses in the study area; 60(33.3%) has their building falls under 51-75% for over built, 48(26.7%) has their building falls under 76-100% for overbuilt. For the factors influencing the percentage of area built upon, 57(31.7%) has greed and no money to acquire a large plot of land, 47(26.0%) has no land space to built their desirable house. Then, non adherence to provision of adequate ventilation and lighting in the residential houses in the study area affects the dwellers’ health and such factors can promote communicable diseases. In conclusion, it was observed that the compliance rate was not encouraging because the planning regulations recorded very low compliance as include set–back from property boundaries; inadequate free air space; lost of aesthetic values, and inadequate ventilation and lighting. Therefore, government should embark on enforcement of land use plan, and strategic plans for various towns and villages to accommodate its utilities and facilities.