Explaining the relationship between urban land use per capita and residents’ perceived accessibility using a spatial justice approach: A case study of Tehran metropolis

Land use per capita remains one of the most widely used quantitative indicators in urban planning for evaluating the provision of urban services. Despite its normative significance, its validity as a proxy for accessibility has received limited empirical examination. This study investigates the extent to which land use per capita provision corresponds to accessibility outcomes across seven neighborhoods in District 20 of Tehran. Using a spatial evaluation model, spatial equity is evaluated through observed service distributions and survey-based accessibility data. Accessibility is operationalized as a measurable variable derived from standardized survey responses. Statistical analyses and spatial diagnostics, including Global Moran’s I, are employed to explain the relationship between six categories of service-related land uses and reported accessibility levels. The findings reveal that higher land use per capita provision does not consistently translate into improved accessibility. The relationship is weak and spatially unstable, while service distribution exhibits a fragmented and non-clustered pattern across neighborhoods. These results suggest that land use per capita standards provide only a partial representation of accessibility outcomes. Spatial configuration and distributional structure emerge as key dimensions influencing the effectiveness of service provision. The study highlights the need for more robust, evidence-based evaluation models that integrate spatial and behavioral dimensions of accessibility.