Inclusionary spatial developmental practices regarding in situ upgrading of informal settlements in South Africa are widely recognised across disciplines as a crucial aspect in the redevelopment of South African cities. Under Goal 11, the SDGs explain in detail how such participatory principles are crucial to the sustainable development of all cities. Although the rhetoric around inclusionary development is well established, there remains considerable murkiness about what participative spatial development processes entail, what these practices look like in action, and where their value lies regarding the spatial implications of in situ upgrading in informal settlements. The chapter identifies and unpacks an identified ‘practice gap’ between the nature of participatory design processes and the reality of actioning such work, and argues for a more reflective and critically proactive approach. The study seeks to add to the growing discourse on practice-led knowledge towards reimaging practice frameworks across the sector of socio-technical spatial development for informal settlements. This is done through a careful blend of practice-based experience in South Africa with selected project partners. These reflections are then summarised towards supporting those working through the challenges of participatory spatial development processes in South Africa, and similar African contexts.