New research published by Landsec – Shaping Successful Future Cities – shows that urban spaces have the potential to thrive, despite challenging circumstances, if meaningful policy reform is taken.
The research demonstrates that without this, some of our urban spaces could be unliveable in as little as ten years. In response, Landsec sets out its ‘Six Principles of Urbanisation’ and calls for urgent policy reform.
The research, carried out in collaboration with The Future Laboratory, one of the world’s leading strategic foresight consultancies, maps four possible future city scenarios – from best through to worst case – with the outcome dependent on the action we take now.
In response to the research, Landsec has launched its new ‘Six Principles of Urbanisation’. These, devised in collaboration with a panel of twelve renowned industry experts, act as a guide for the creation of successful future urban spaces. Alongside these principles, Landsec has also unveiled a series of actions policy makers can take to drive a more immediate city revival in the UK - and help avert the worst-case scenario identified by the research.
Mark Allan, CEO, Landsec said: “We are at a crossroads when it comes to the future of our cities. For the good of our nation’s competitiveness and the opportunities it will provide our communities, we need to focus on the future of our cities today. Put simply, we need to act now – starting with urgently needed policy reform - to achieve a more prosperous and positive future for all. To deliver more jobs, more homes and more growth, we must bring people, business and cities together.
“As an investor, developer and a shaper of places, our own success is intrinsically linked to creating cities that drive good, clean growth and unite communities - to help them thrive for the long-term. This research is guiding us in how we approach the challenges that face us and our industry. My hope is that it will help others and encourage further debate and dialogue.”
Research findings:
- A dystopian future: The worst-case scenario mapped by the paper – ‘The Problematic Future’ - is a city which is virtually unliveable. It is one where urban planning and construction have taken no heed of their environmental impact or climate change, and a lack of action on social inequality results in deepening divisions.
- Adapting and evolving: In this ‘Probable Future’, cities will evolve by retrofitting their existing infrastructure and responding to new technology, and social resilience will be as important as physical resilience.
- Collective and vitalising: This ‘Possible Future’ is one where the city is focused on safety, equitability and health. It is a city that is emotionally intelligent and empathetic to the needs of all urban dwellers, not just the most productive – making it desirable for all.
- Green and flourishing: The report has also mapped the ‘best case scenario’. ‘The Prosperous Future’ provides a stark contrast to the first scenario. It is a city which acknowledges that in order for people to flourish, the environment around them must be protected to flourish as well.
Landsec’s new Six Principles of Urbanisation, ranked in order of importance by the expert panel, to ensure a prosperous and flourishing future for our cities, are: (1) Climate prepared, (2) Resilience, (3) Desirable, (4) Responsive, (5) Equitable and (6) Polycentric. (Please see the Appendix for more detail on each Principle).
Using these as a guide, Landsec has identified several tangible ways in which national and local government can help ensure successful future urban spaces. These include mandating sustainable development goals and net zero commitments now - to create the right development environment; increasing the use of public-private partnerships; greater and more effective devolution - as local authorities’ ability to be the custodians and catalysts cities need them to be is currently limited by a lack of funding and of powers.
Wholesale planning reform to create a framework that encourages sustainable development and removes barriers to progress is also key, so too is an overhaul of the current business rates system to incentivise the creation of new jobs and shape thriving places. The Government should honour its commitment to replacing the existing business rates system with a simpler, more transparent and more equitable system.
