Determinants of urban Land Price in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Internal migration has over the last two decades increased demand for residential land in Freetown. Unfortunately, access to land via the government functionary has not kept pace with demands. The majority of the population therefore depends on the unofficial land market. This study addressed two objectives. The first attempted to identify the most important variables that determine urban land price. The second compared the east, and west sections of the city, in terms of which factors are significant in determining land price in each area. Taking eight settlements, four on either side of the city centre, 160 residents were interviewed for objective one. A model was developed using 10 variables, and a regression equation, based on land maximization theory was ran. The obtained parameters-r 2 =0.81, P=0.000, a=0.05, indicated a strong overall positive correlation between the dependent and explanatory variables, and the regression model highly significant. Positive correlation coefficients were shown by income, population, infrastructure, social status, environmental concerns and neighbourhood. These indeed explained the factors that influenced residential land use in Freetown, especially in the western half of the city. For objective 2, a total of 40 land traders and 40 land buyers were interviewed, and the results presented in percentages. These showed that the two sides agreed only on income, and population as significant in determining land price. We concluded that this had to do with class division, as the west houses the three arms of government, diplomats, and wealthy, as against the middle and low class in the east.

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