Equitable urban development focuses on fairly distributing benefits and opportunities across all residents, addressing not only physical infrastructure but also social, economic, and environmental factors. It recognizes that equality is not enough—equity requires tailored support for communities with historical disadvantages (Urban Institute, 2024). Key principles include inclusivity, accessibility, environmental justice, and community empowerment. However, without a proactive equity focus, urban growth often deepens disparities, particularly when market forces favor wealthier areas, leaving marginalized communities further neglected (Urban Institute, 2024). This creates a cycle of disinvestment, where underserved areas continue to face worse conditions in terms of housing, services, and infrastructure.

Spatial inequality, driven by factors like urbanization, regional infrastructure, and discriminatory policies (e.g., redlining), further exacerbates these issues. Wealthier regions benefit from better infrastructure and services, while poorer areas struggle, leading to socio-economic segregation and limited social mobility (Wikipedia, 2025). Investments often follow the path of higher returns, neglecting less profitable areas, which amplifies historical disadvantages and deepens inequality. Effective strategies for equitable urbanism must confront these systemic issues, addressing both the physical and socio-economic disparities that hinder inclusive urban development and ensuring fair access to resources and opportunities for all communities.