Sustainable development: A case for urban leftover spaces

Urbanization across the world is growing at a rapid pace, with much of the population growth taking place in small to medium-sized urban centers characterized by high-density development and mixed land use. The local authorities are trying to make urban development more compact, livable while accommodating the capacity of the revenue base. Several studies have been conducted on the different aspects of environmental security in the developed world. However, one opportunity lies in the usage of urban leftover spaces to accommodate the population growth and their needs. The integrated approach to urban planning, management of urban leftover spaces, and people's perception can benefit the outcomes for the well-being of urban residents while helping the policymakers to strategize environmental improvements at different scales. This paper proposes the significance of people's preference approach to develop leftover spaces in ways to mitigate negative environmental impact from within the cities.