The link between quality of urban development and its impact on environment has for long been debated. The authors attempt to assess the impact that India's rapidly urbanizing cities and related development are having on urban environment. The authors emphasize on the 'quality' of development while attempting to answer this question and indicate that quality factors, such as, density, urban massing and spatial pattern of land use, as well as socio-economic and cultural factors resulting from these, have an important bearing on the quality of urban environment in Indian cities. The authors conclude that several physical and human environmental factors need to be further evaluated from a new perspective to gain insights into perceived and measured components that influence environmental quality.

The paper brings forth key issues concerning environmentally sustainable development of cities in the wake of rapid urbanization and shows the pathway for future sustainable cities of India. Studies reveal that around the world smaller cities are going to accommodate a larger number of people in the future and be the engines of economic growth and development. A thorough study to ascertain intra-city residential patterns is undertaken. It is perceived that to establish a relationship between residential patterns based on built-forms, distribution of dwelling units, population distribution, etc. (collectively known as physical density) and environmental quality, it is quintessential that local environmental problems are studied at the neighbourhood level. Following this, the terms density and environmental quality are defined and common measures adopted to describe the different types of physical density and indicators to assess neighbourhood environmental quality (NEQ) are identified. The literature review reveals that studies taking into account physical aspects of the built environment and their impact on urban environmental quality (UEQ) are sparse especially in the Indian context, thus justifying the scope of the work. The study concludes with the discussion of impacts of increasing density on environmental quality and identification of a set of variables as emerging from the literature review to help formulate an adaptive indicator framework for assessing NEQ in Indian cities.

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Numerous buildings are raised every day as a result of increasing urbanization and the need for creating larger number of accommodations for people in the cities. These buildings transform the cities into concrete jungles, without taking into consideration either the identity of the residential neighbourhoods, or the necessary open and green spaces required for a livable and sustainable environment. Hence, there arises a need to overcome the negative effects within those precarious settings and find a solution for improving the quality of life in residential areas, by assessing the impact of different physical density in residential areas on the nature and use of open spaces (NUOS). In the present study, the case study approach is used to conduct a pilot study and compare two residential localities of Jaipur, India, with different physical densities and assess the NUOS, outlining both qualities and deficiencies of their planning. A conceptual framework showing possible correlations between density variables and indicators of NUOS is developed and based on primary and secondary data, a correlation coefficient analysis is undertaken that shows significant relationships between the density variables and indicators of NUOS. It suggests that more people engage in different activities and greater social interaction happens in higher density neighbourhoods. The study also emphasizes on the fact of less ground coverage and more open spaces as a way towards the design of sustainable communities. The distribution of physical and social infrastructure as given by the spatial density variables improves peoples’ willingness to come to these spaces for various activities and social interaction. Thus, it indicates an enhanced use of the open spaces as shown by the positive correlation. The multiple regression analysis is used to ascertain the percentage variation in NUOS with change in physical density variables. The findings are statistically tested and aggregate quality profiles of the open spaces are generated for both the areas. The quality profiles serve as tools to identify commonalities and differences in the indicators of NUOS and help in suggesting measures for improving the conditions. The proposed methodology can be adapted and used for various other existing and upcoming residential areas to assess and improve NUOS and promote sustainable development in our cities.