TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................ ii

 ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................... iii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................................. v 

TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................. vii 

LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................................. x

 LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................. xi

 DEFINITION OF TERMS................................................................................................................. xii

 ABBREVIATIONS AND MEANING............................................................................................... xiii 

ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION......................................................................................................xiv 

Chapter ONE

................................................................................................................................1

 1.1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................1 

1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY.................................................................................................2

 1.3 Problem statement.....................................................................................................................4 

1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH...........................................................................4 

1.4.1 Aim............................................................................................................................................4 

1.4.2 Objectives..................................................................................................................................5 

The objectives of this research are as follows: ..................................................................................5

 1.5 Research questions.....................................................................................................................5 

1.6 Significance of the study ..............................................................................................................5 

1.7 Research methodology and design.............................................................................................6 

1.7.1 Research design ....................................................................................................................6 

1.7.2 Population of the study............................................................................................................7 

1.7.3 Instrument for data collection ................................................................................................7 

1.7.4 Administration of instrument ................................................................................................8 

1.7.5 Techniques of data analysis.................................................................................................8 

1.7.6 Scope and limitation of the study ........................................................................................8 

1.8 Key assumptions ....................................................................................................................8 

1.9 Ethical considerations.............................................................................................................9 

1.10 Thesis structure.......................................................................................................................9 

1.11 Research process ....................................................................................................................9

 1.12 Chapter summary......................................................................................................................10

 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW...............................................................................................................11

 2.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................11 

2.2 Construction industry .................................................................................................................11 

2.2.1 Construction stakeholders.......................................................................................................13

 2.3 Sustainable development and sustainable housing ...................................................................14

 2.4 Building materials ...............................................................................................................16 

2.4.1 Factors responsible for increase in the cost of building materials......................................17

 2.4.1.2 Building production related factors..................................................................................19 

2.4.1.3 Stakeholder related factors ..............................................................................................21 

2.4.1.4 External factors.................................................................................................................22 

2.5 Construction project consideration ............................................................................................23

 2.5.1 Cost consideration ...............................................................................................................24

 2.5.2 Quality consideration...........................................................................................................25 

2.5.3 Time consideration ..............................................................................................................26 

2.5.4 Human management ...........................................................................................................27 

2.6 Material management ................................................................................................................28

 2.6.1 Materials utilisation and wastage........................................................................................30 

2.6.2 Waste management.............................................................................................................31 

2.6.3 Cost overrun in construction project...................................................................................32 

2.6.4 Time overrun in construction project..................................................................................33 

2.7 EFFECTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS COST ON HOUSING DELIVERY ...............................35

 2.7.1 Fluctuation in cost of construction ......................................................................................35

 2.7.2 Increase in project abandonment........................................................................................36

 2.7.3 Low volume of construction product...................................................................................36 

2.7.4 Poor quality of workmanship...............................................................................................37 

2.7.5 Unemployment of construction workers.............................................................................37 

2.8 Selection of sustainable building materials.............................................................................38

 2. 8.1 Principles of material selection towards sustainable construction ....................................39 

2.8.2 Criteria for selection of sustainable building materials.......................................................41 

2.8.2.1 Resource efficiency ...........................................................................................................42

 2.8.2.2 Energy efficiency ...............................................................................................................42 

2.8.2.3 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) ....................................................................................................43 

2.9 Chapter summary....................................................................................................................44 

Chapter THREE

...........................................................................................................................45 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN................................................................................45

3.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................45

 3.2 Research philosophies .........................................................................................................45 

3.3 Research methodology ............................................................................................................47 

3.4 Research approach...................................................................................................................51 

3.5 Research strategies...................................................................................................................52 

3.6 Questionnaire development.......................................................................................................54 

3.7 Research design ........................................................................................................................56

3.8 Validity and reliability of the data................................................................................................62 

3.9 Chapter summary........................................................................................................................63 

Chapter FOUR

............................................................................................................................65 

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................65 

4.2 Exploratory study .....................................................................................................................65

 4.3 Questionnaire survey for the main study ..............................................................................65 

4.5 Testing the reliability of the research Instrument.......................................................................71 

4.6 Presentation of findings..............................................................................................................71 

4.7 Discussion of the findings .........................................................................................................81 

4.8 Validity assurance of the quantitative research results ............................................................89 

4.9 Validation of findings.................................................................................................................90 

4.10 Achieving the objectives of the research study...................................................................96

 4.11 Operational framework .......................................................................................................99 

4.12 Chapter summary..................................................................................................................100 

Chapter FIVE

...........................................................................................................................102 

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .........................................................102 

5.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................102 

5.2 Summary ..............................................................................................................................102 

5.3 Conclusion................................................................................................................................103

 5.4 Limitations..............................................................................................................................104 

5.5 Conclusion and recommendations.........................................................................................105 

5.6 Areas for further study..........................................................................................................107

 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................108 

APPENDICES: APPENDIX A – SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE..........................................................134 

APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS.....................................................................................144