Evaluating the sustainability performance of sustainable, innovative, and affordable housing

The provision of sustainable, innovative, and affordable housing (SIAH) is a global priority, especially in rapidly urbanizing contexts. However, a comprehensive tool for assessing the sustainability performance of such housing is lacking. This study develops the SIAH Sustainability Assessment Tool (SIAH-SAT), integrating 127 validated critical success factors (CSFs) across four dimensions: economic, environmental, social, and technical. Using an exploratory mixed-method design, a Delphi process and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) survey with international experts validated the CSFs and established relative sustainability weights (RSWs). The tool was applied to five diverse affordable housing cases, producing Sustainability Index (SI) scores that highlighted strengths and areas for improvement. Results demonstrate SIAH-SAT's capacity to evaluate and compare housing performance across subcategories, offering a context sensitive framework for policymakers, developers, and practitioners. By supporting evidence-based decision-making, SIAHSAT advances scientific discourse on sustainable, inclusive urban development and guides the delivery of housing aligned with global sustainability goals.