A scoping review with a conceptual framework for the taxonomy, mapping and circular regeneration of urban wastescapes

Abstract

Abstract Rapidly urbanising cities and towns has posed increasing pressure on the available land, rendering it a scarce and highly valuable resource in the contemporary era. However, this scenario presents a paradox. While some land parcels within city cores remain abandoned, underutilised or vacant, urban expansion continues beyond municipal limits, often resulting in fragmented and underused peripheral land parcels. Both conditions contribute to the formation of ‘wastescapes’ or ‘wasted landscapes’; lands that are dysfunctional due to neglect, abandonment, environmental degradation, or functional obsolescence. Despite their deteriorated state, wastescapes have latent potential to become productive, when aligned with the theoretical principles of compact urban form, land recycling and sustainable development. This paper advances a theoretical consolidation of the various types of wastescapes and its hidden potentials through the principles of circular economy positioning them as critical spatial entities within emerging circular city discourses. Employing a scoping review methodology and reporting through PRISMA-ScR framework, the study critically examines taxonomies, mapping techniques and circular regeneration strategies. The findings offer conceptual clarity for researchers and structured guidance for decision makers, enabling them to apply the typologies derived from this research to empirical contexts using appropriate mapping techniques. Ultimately, the paper establishes a consolidated theoretical foundation and a framework for spatial circular regeneration, presenting a wide array of spatial strategies for circular regeneration, which can be adapted and contextualized to suit specific urban needs.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Discover Sustainability, 2026 · DOI ↗