Socio-spatial inequities of selected leisure spaces in Durban Metropolis: investigating social impacts and driving factors of leisure land use changes for equitable urban livability

Purpose This study aims to investigate the geography and role of leisure land use and land cover (LULC) changes of nine selected leisure spaces in Durban from 2004 to 2024, in mitigating socio-spatial inequities within the city’s rapidly urbanizing landscape. The research responds to the understanding of the unequal distribution of leisure spaces, as well as the issues of social exclusion, environmental injustice and diminished urban livability. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a multitemporal, geo-spatial analytical approach to map, analyze and interpret the distribution and accessibility of ten strategically selected urban leisure spaces from 2004 to 2024. The methodological framework integrates spatial overlay, proximity analysis and demographic data to explore patterns of leisure space distribution in relation to population dynamics, socioeconomic variables and infrastructural development. Findings The study reveals pronounced disparities in leisure space availability and accessibility, primarily favoring affluent, predominantly white northern and western suburbs, while historically marginalized, predominantly black, lower-income neighborhoods in central and southern Durban suffer from inadequate leisure infrastructure, revealing socio-spatial inequities rooted in apartheid-era segregation, uneven urban planning policies and contemporary market-driven spatial transformations. Research limitations/implications This study underscores the critical role of socio-spatial indicators in guiding equitable urban planning and livability strategies, particularly in rapidly urbanizing contexts like Durban. By integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based spatial analysis with planning systems and community dynamics, the research highlights the need for data-driven, inclusive and future-proofed urban policies. It advocates for embedding socio-spatial equity in planning frameworks to mitigate environmental injustices and improve access to leisure amenities. The findings inform both urban governance and curriculum development in geography and planning education, fostering interdisciplinary, context-specific approaches to sustainable urban development. Practical implications This study provides practical insights for urban planners, policymakers and educators by demonstrating how socio-spatial data can be used to identify inequities in access to leisure spaces. It advocates for the adoption of GIS and remote sensing tools to inform land use decisions, enhance public participation and ensure inclusive urban development. Practically, the findings can guide interventions to redistribute recreational infrastructure, improve quality of life in underserved communities and integrate socio-spatial awareness into planning curricula and professional training, ultimately fostering more just, resilient and livable urban environments in peri-urban contexts like Durban. Social implications The findings illuminate how leisure space inequities perpetuate systemic injustices, undermine social cohesion and constrain the realization of inclusive urban environments. Originality/value This study advances the scholarly conversation on urban leisure geography by offering a pioneering GIS-based, multitemporal exploration of leisure LULC and accessibility in Durban Metropolis, bridging critical gaps in the literature by explicitly linking LULC changes with socio-spatial justice and urban livability debates.