Rapid and unbalanced physical development in the cities has resulted in unsuitable economic, social, and physical consequences. This is one of consequences of informal settlements and economic and social unsustainability. One of the solutions for this problem is city development strategy (CDS). This approach includes a wide range of management, social, economic, environmental, physical issues in the cities. For this approach, different strategic planning models are used. Therefore, the objective of this research is the recognition of the possibility rate of principles of CDB (City Development Strategy) in Mashhad and prioritization of the effects and roles of each principle in population of suburban area of Mashhad. Descriptive- analytical method was used in order to study the context of suburban area of Mashhad. By using available information in databank of Mashhad Municipality and the future plans, the intensified indicators of population (economic, migration, housing, social) were recognized. By analyzing the failure of CDS principles ( livability, comparability, bankability, and urban governance) which cause more population in suburban area, among four main principles of CDS , major factors of population in suburban area have been weighed by Delphi Technique and survey (in the form of paired matrix). They have been analyzed by TOPSIS technique. The results and findings showed that the condition of urban development strategy criteria in Mashhad with overall average of 2.82 was not in good condition and the failure in these criteria has caused the population marginalization of the city. Among the indicators of urban development strategy, the most breakdowns were in the indicators of good governance, viability, bankability and competitiveness.
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