Abstract Irregular migration and uncontrolled urbanism and urbanization have reduced the urban managers' flexibility in planning and organization of municipal affairs, and thus the appropriate patterns have arisen for physical growth and development of city and taken into account for future planning. This issue is much more important in Mashhad City as the religious capital of Iran and one of the main population-catchy hubs in hierarchy of urban network of Iran due to the natural, industrial, and economic attractions because the population growth and the entry of immigrants and tourists have led to unplanned construction and vast changes in spatial-physical urban structure and its spread around the city to in recent years. Therefore, this study aims at analyzing the physical-spatial development pattern of Districts 1 and 2 in the west Mashhad through SWOT matrix with descriptive-analytical approach and applied objective. The statistical population of this study covers the central-west Mashhad City, and 384 families have been selected as the samples for each of Districts 1 and 2 according to Morgan table. Based on the obtained results, the defensive strategies are the strategic situation as the best strategy for Districts 1 and 2 in the west Mashhad and it includes the policies such as increased privatization, created context for cooperation between managers and citizens and attention to the environment.

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