With the growth in urbanisation, the demand for affordable low cost housing has increased. To own a house by middle and lower income groups in today's economic trends is very difficult. The concept of Low cost housing comes from the necessity to adopt cost effective, innovative housing technologies using local construction materials to build affordable and eco-friendly housing for communities.

Low-cost building materials not only increase access to permanent housing for people from low and middle-income groups but also contributes towards sustainability, particularly when locally available building material is used.

There is huge misconception that low cost housing is suitable for only sub standard works and they are constructed by utilizing cheap building materials of low quality.The fact is that Low cost housing is done by proper management of resources.Economy is also achieved by postponing finishing works or implementing them in phases.

Realising the importance of low cost housing in countries which have varied living standards and huge population to cater alongwith keeping a check on availability and use of natural resources in construction; the option of low cost housing needs to be explored at the fullest.

Key Features:

 Inexpensive to build

 Save money while also maintaining building quality

 Not sacrificing the strength, performance and life of the structure

 Takes less time in building in comparison to the conventional ones

 Use of resources while not harming the environment

 Final result should be affordable for most people

Different building techniques :

 Recycling

 Extensive planning

 Modular planning

 Infilling

Commonly used materials:

Bamboo: It is a green building material, which is very popular in India due to its low cost, low weight and durability but should be treated with appropriate chemicals to make it termite resistant.

Concrete Blocks: Made by mixing Portland cement, water, stone or quartz these blocks can either be solid or hollow and are generally lightweight, durable and fire- resistant.

Prefabricated Houses: Houses made of components that are factory manufactured. The components include steel frames, wooden panels, cement and gypsum for floors along with factory fabricated doors, windows, ceilings and walls.

Magnesium oxide cement : Also called as ‘eco cement’, this material is made out of several waste materials but has high durability .

Compressed Earth Bricks : Developed out of mud and reinforced with a mixture of lime and cement. Also known as adobe bricks, they are lightweight, non-toxic and fire-resistant. Considered one of the cheapest among low-cost building materials.

Mud bricks reinforced by natural fibres from straw and coconut :
This sustainable building material is commonly used in rural areas to make weatherproof homes . Natural fibres like coconut and straw increase the strength and durability of pure mud while a coating of sulphur improves the water-resistance of the walls.

Shipping container homes : It is as cost-effective as a prefabricated home as the container only needs to be arranged on a prepared foundation.

Fly ash Hollow bricks : These bricks are used for constructing load-bearing walls of low rise buildings and are made of fly ash, stone powder or sand, slag and cement or gypsum for bonding.

Advantages :Stronger than brick, speed, savings- cost effective, innovative- realistic modern alternative, job creation, environment- reduces pollution and environmental destruction.

Disdvantages :Lack of resources, insufficient funds, shortage of skills ,work flow control, time constraint, waste

Conclusion :

There is a strict need at present in India for building cheap and affordable houses. The growing population in urban areas have led to a strict shortage in land, congested traffic and housing shortfall . This has also led to the hike in prices which makes it impossible for common people to have their own houses. Thus there is a immediate need for construction of cheap houses in large scale. When it comes to the health and vitality of our communities, affordable housing is the key. The need for quality, affordable homes is animportant part of Sustainable Development.