"In 2050, Cities Will Be..." - A Collection of Short Essays by Students and Industry Leaders by acadrealassets

2024 COLLECTION OF SHORT ESSAYS

2023/24 PARTNERS OF THE ACADEMY OF REAL ASSETS

Welcome to the third of our annual book of student essays, following on from our 2022 and 2023 editions.

When we started The Academy in 2020 we had a very simple objective: to introduce to students, at an early stage, all the amazing opportunities that the business of Real estate offers.

In particular we had ambitions to engage with students and schools that might not typically have considered our business. This meant finding ways to prick the curiosity, gain the trust and confidence of teachers, community leaders, sports’ club organisers.

This means not taking short cuts and, in particular, taking time to work out what we can do to help each special and different group of students.

Our annual essay contest and Book Launch event is part of that strategy.

The idea is to encourage students to think about the built environment without making it just another classroom activity…. so dangling the carrot of getting published and to get their name in an actual , real book we ask students to submit to us short essays on a topic loosely connected to the buildings, the towns, the cities that surround them.

We want to discover how they see their futures and that of the places they live in.

By way of contrast we also ask some of our members to write on the same topic as the students…… we publish both perspectives alongside each other.

The digital version of the book is sent each year to well over 4,000 UK State schools and so, bit by bit, we are raising the profile of The Academy and thus we are able to put on more events, help more students, make a bigger impact.

From modest beginnings in 2020 The Academy now puts on 50+ events each year where thousands of students get to meet with, learn from and be inspired by our members.

We have come a fair way in four years but we all feel we have hardly started and for the year ahead we have further ambitious plans.

If you are already part of The Academy family , as member or partner , thank you for your support and encouragement…. if you are not and would like to learn more we would love to hear from you.

Stephen Yorke Founder June 2024

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Academy would not exist without the support of our amazing members and so , first and foremost, thank you to all of you for your encouragement , enthusiasm and patience .

Thank you also to all the teachers , group and community leaders that work so hard on behalf of their students all year and we salute you and your dedication and hope we can help in some small way.

On a personal note I would like to thank the incredible Academy team , Victoria , Lou , Reanne , Margaret and Stephen and a special thank you and well done to Robbie for project-managing this 2024 book.

Also , thank you to our Advisory Board who put their trust in us and lend their names and considerable reputations to our initiative .

Finally, well done and thank you to all the students that took the time to submit an essay …..well done and we hope you feel very proud of your achievement.

NAIERA MAHMUD

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford

“IN 2050, CITIES WILL BE…” VIDEO ESSAY

Directed by Naiera Mahmud

Voices by Naiera Mahmud

Sulaiman Ahmed

Rayan Bernia

Prima Farhana Akter

Dylan Molina Lant

Musa Mirza

Jannat Al Mariam

Scan the QR code below and watch the short film.

SCAN ME

PRINCESS AFRIYIE

Learning Field International school, Akosombo Eastern Region, Co-op Academies Leeds

In 2050, cities will have high technology characteristics that will enable virtual city management via wireless network, Internet applications and power sensors. Citizens will have instant information on traffic, weather, congestion data, availability of public transportation. The cities will provide optimal life quality and improve the comfort and health of individuals who work and live within the cities. Inhabitable cities are socially accommodative, accessible, inexpensive, secure, healthy and resistant to the influence of environmental changes. In 2050, cities will have attractive natural and built environment. In 2050, there will be no more wires used in communication. Everyone will have a satellite transmitter in their homes that can be used to transmit live video and audio feeds to anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds. All banking, shopping and personal business can now be done in comfort and privacy of your home.

By 2050, people won’t need to do work housework or cook for because robots will be doing all the work. Hydrogen and many other chemical elements will be use as fuel instead of petrol. All flying vehicles will be computer controlled and the event of accident the computer system will control the vehicle before collision occurs.

Roads will be filled with self driving vehicles. In 2050, the world will experience tremendous change compared to the present age. The challenges and opportunities that we will face revolve the increasing impact of climate change, technological advancement. Sea level will be increase which many cities and island which are situated on the shores of the sea will be absorb in the sea. In 2050, cities will continue to expand with more skyscraper being built as million head to large cities for employment and career prospects. In the future it will be easy for everyone to afford education. And also increase of world’s population will be at least 9-10 billion. The environment, transportation, education and people’s lifestyle will also change into a higher level. In addition, the ease of communication characteristics to the cities may increase the complexity of information management for security systems. In 2050, living will be easier and interesting.

Co-Op Academy Leeds

Co-op Academy Leeds is a welcoming and diverse community where we provide an ambitious and inspirational education that supports our young people to achieve exceptional outcomes.

DIANA ALSHALABI

Whitmore High School

In 2050 cities will be… The future cities will be… Well how am I supposed to know? These extreme changes over the last decade make me wonder what life will be like within the next 5 years, let alone a few decades. With the patterns of lacking social unity, future cities would be fragmented. The concerning increase in the gap between poverty and rich is becoming unstoppable. Class is no longer defined as a vertical ranking linked to capital and a systematic production. Class is no longer as socially mobile as it used to be. Class is fixed. It is no longer the upper class being able to live in a more comfortable house and eat better food; it is about the lack of necessities the working class will be able to afford. Life feeds the upper class and their conveniences, whilst the proletariats wonder if they were productive enough to not be fired from their minimum wage job. Cities will be divided.

With the lack of educational and demerit resources available for the working class, unplanned children will be on a significant rise. Increasing population sizes pressurises government and private funding bodies to hastily build infrastructure, public services and housing. Thereby, there is a lack of adequate access to employment opportunities, education and healthcare. Rapid rising populations can only mean plummeting prices and scarce supply, of which the rich are primarily prioritised for. The birth rate continuously increasing is mostly from working class families who do not have sufficient resources, cultural capital and economic capital to socialise their children into society to an appropriate standard. Cities will be divided.

Furthermore, the technological conveniences will be prioritised for the bourgeoisie. It will be interconnected with their lives, making their daily routine and tasks much more conveniently carried out compared to a proliterate’s. After a long day at work in their high status job, they come back knackered and eager to have a break. Their robot vacuum is two steps ahead of them, cleaning the house so well that you could notice a gram of dust from a mile away. Their 43 inch 4K television is waiting to be watched every night whilst their dishes from breakfast are being washed in the dishwasher. Whereas coming home for a proletariat is immediate chores such as manually vacuuming and hand washing dishes (and if they were lucky they could get an hour break at the end of their evening). This immense gap is not just unfair, but concerning. Chores keep towering over the working class whilst the bourgeoisie could gradually buy themselves out of more and more chores by purchasing high end and expensive machinery to assist them in their household. Is this simply the gap between rich or poor? Or is this a more concerning topic that should be stressed to decrease the household duties of the majority working class? It would not just tire them out, it would eventually drain them. Cities will be divided.

A slight glimpse at what cities are to look like in 2050 has shown various ways in which class will have a great impact on the lives of individuals as we all live divided and ununified. Lives will change drastically, leaving some with more benefits than others. Some may live a more comfortable and opportunistic life, whereas others may live a life not knowing when their next meal might be. It could all be completely different if people within cities and communities helped one another, aiding each other mentally and economically so everybody can live in consensus and harmony. But until you make the active decision to start change, society may only crumble and deteriorate.

In 2050 cities will be divided. People will be divided.

Whitmore High School

Whitmore High School is a mixed comprehensive school with an excellent record of achievement. Students are expected to achieve the highest standards of work and behaviour in a positive, friendly but disciplined atmosphere.

ARIAN AOYAN

Bow School

In 2050, cities will be a contrast to how cities look now. It may seem peculiar to us if we imagine what cities will look like in 2050 now but it is time for cities and architecture to change and become more divergent.

The main aspect of architecture that will take a disparate path will be how architecture is done and delineated in 2050. AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be a substitution for hard-working architects and urban planners who design our cities. Artificial Intelligence will create a drastic change in how urban design looks and the appearance of cities. Fundamentally, Artificial Intelligence lacks creativity and struggles when faced with unpredictable situations. Due to this, in 2050, cities will be unembellished due to the lack of inventiveness within them. However, the positive impact of the influence of Artificial Intelligence within our city will create an immaculate environment since Artificial Intelligence is known for perfection and paucity of errors. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence can revolutionise the advancements of technology and its uses. Cities will be known for a lack of creativity, but also the orderliness of buildings within them. They will also be hidden gems for their technological advancements inside of the cities.

Issues that have been affecting cities like Hong Kong since 1885 are scientifically proven to continue and exacerbate throughout the next few centuries. These issues are climate change and global warming. An article from www.un.org states, “In 1988, global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer became increasingly prominent in the international public debate and political agenda”. Issues like these are what delay our progress in enhancing cities however the issue is only delaying us because we exacerbated it. Due to an unexpected and sudden increase in global population, more global greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide are being emitted into our innocent Earth. By 2050, these could increase by 60% (Statistics by www.oecd.org) causing more of a delay than there already is as the world leaders will be forced to pause construction, deforestation, and demolition because of the climax we placed ourselves in. An increase in pollution will be a result of climate change’s effects on Earth leading to outdoor pollution becoming one of the top causes of environmentally related deaths worldwide. An article from www.fidelity.com.sg states, “A study showed that with no change in emission by 2050, 1,126,000 premature mortalities are expected each year due to ozone”. In 2050, cities will be covered in polluted emissions and an increase in population will be what will cause polluted cities.

On the bright side, if humans continue to be urban architects working alongside artificial intelligence, then climate change, and population increase are controlled, cities will be amazingly diverse. In 2050, cities will be modern and colourful. In London, buildings like Big Ben will be modernised without a change in structure. In London’s

night atmosphere, lights will be everywhere and eco-friendly to reduce levels of electricity being used around the city. Construction will reduce and instead, parts of London will shut down for larger projects rather than many areas being shut down for small projects. All vehicles will either be hydrogen or electric powered including trains, buses, and boats. All buses will be double-decker except for tunnel-entering buses to allow more passengers into one bus reducing the amount of vehicles being used. Roads will enlarge into several lanes: large vehicles, buses, cycles, and the rest. More parks and greenery will be implanted into the peaceful streets of London. There will be roads above and below to attenuate traffic and amend road organisation. Large capital cities like London, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Helsinki are examples of cities that are already working on these pioneering alternates within them.

From my perspective, I believe that cities in 2050 will be unabridged of environmentally friendly materials used for construction as well as a lack of nature within cities. I also predict that artificial intelligence will be heavily used by cities in 2050 causing a scarcity of employment and therefore more widespread poverty. For this reason, I think that the government and world leaders should be extremely considerate and aware of the dangers that modernisation can cause to the environment and the human population. As referred to commonly, “human error” is still within artificial intelligence since the word “artificial” literally means “man-made” and it can cause irreversible mistakes in the future if we adjust rapidly to this contemporary structure.

To conclude, my understanding of what cities will appear like in 2050 contains both positive and negative impacts. I have analysed the impacts of topics such as climate change, population increase, and artificial intelligence. As far as I am concerned, artificial intelligence will impact cities most, especially due to its contribution to unemployment. In 2050, cities will be unprecedented, however they will also be polluted due to refurbishment procedures.

Bow School

Bow School is a modern and progressive school, underpinned by forward-thinking values and a vision to prepare every student for the future, to be World and Career Ready.

ELLA BROADBENT

Roundwood Park School

In 2050, what will cities be like? In order to find the answer to this question, we must first weigh up all different possibilities. For example: will we go on holiday to the moon? Will we still live here? What will we eat? What will we do in our spare time? Will we have any need to leave our houses? Will we have electronic limbs? Will we meet people through holograms? Will we even exist? Will we destroy our planet so much that it is uninhabitable? Despite the complexity of the question, in this essay, I will attempt to answer this question.

Although there is much uncertainty in regards to our future, there is something we can be certain about, and that is that technology will have made some huge advancements. In recent years, we have seen a spike in our technological advancements, and that number is sure to increase sharply by 2050. Already, it is impossible to spend a whole day without electricity, however, in 2050, it will be impossible to look anywhere without seeing something electrical. Almost everything will be automatic, including taps, lights, blinds, doors, and many more which will be activated by your voice, your clapping hands or a command system. This advancement will make life a lot easier because almost everything will be done for us. At first this seems great, however, a question arises as to whether we will become lazy beings that never have to do anything for themselves?

Another interesting concept is will our appearance be affected? We may develop extreme anti-aging technologies so that we all appear to be younger than 30 years old. We may even have metal limbs or data processing technologies implanted into our brains? There are endless possibilities. There also raises another question about whether we have - or will ever - truly stop evolving, and whether in the future it will be normal to be partially computerised, or averaging 100 years old and seven foot tall?

With the undoubted technological advancements that are sure to come, this raises questions about how we will socialise with our friends and family. Will we ever meet in person again? Will we leave our houses? Will we see each other through holograms? Although this would make socialising a lot easier, it could make it a lot less enjoyable. Imagine never being able to hug your family, seeing them only through a screen, never knowing if you are actually talking to them.

In the future, what will our leisure activities be? Will athletes turn into robots? Will we constantly be looking at our phones? Will nature watching be a thing of the past? I believe that our leisure activities change every day, so in 26 years, they will have morphed into something completely different, beyond our current imagination.

Our population has rapidly grown over recent years, so there is not doubt that by 2050, our planet will be crawling with people. This may mean that we have to set up another society on the moon or on mars, or that we build our civilisations into forests,

lakes or man made islands so the whole world is one huge mega city, where we are forced to build upwards instead of outwards.

There are also many theories going around about what the diets of the future will look like. Will we eat insects? Will our food be lab-grown? Will we be vegan? Will we have nutrients injected into us instead of eating solid food? I think that in the future we will not eat meat, so as a result, many dairy products won’t be produced because there won’t be any cows. I think that our diets will mainly involve vegetables and potentially require mineral tablets that we have to take each day.

We should also think about the extent of damage we will have inflicted on our environment. Sea levels would have risen and covered many low-lying island nations. Global temperatures will be too hot to go outside and the air will be polluted so much that we will struggle to see through the thick smog. This should come as a warning to us now to change what we are doing so that Earth remains habitable.

There is a very great possibility that in 2050, there may be no cities. There might, in fact, be no more humans. We could get wiped out by a deadly disease. We may even have fled Earth in an attempt to escape our mistakes and set up life elsewhere?

In conclusion, I believe that there is no possible way to know what will happen in the future, because it all depends on what choices we make now. Hopefully, in this essay I have given you something to think about, but we won’t know for sure until 2050.

Roundwood Park School, Harpenden

Roundwood Park is a school with a strong reputation as an innovative and exciting place in which to learn and to teach. It is a place where traditional values of smart appearance, excellent behaviour and acting with integrity mingle with modern learning and high academic standards.

APRIL COUGHLAN

The Charter School North Dulwich

In my opinion I think cities will look reasonably similar 26 years from now, but what is making them tick under the surface will be quite different. This is because we are currently facing a multitude of global issues. For example, climate change is worsening, and this issue is now becoming even more pressing. In addition to this, the wars and violence never seem to stop. Many communities are also unfortunately facing food and/or water scarcity; in many cases this is causing disease and death. And on top of all of these things, the population is growing rapidly — more rapidly than our supply of resources. And the unfortunate truth is that the problem is not only that our cities are not solving these problems, but also that they themselves are causing some of them. And when we realise that, we realise that it calls for major changes to be implemented. One of these changes must be to make more sustainable energy choices. The trend in energy production in the last 150 years has been the burning of fossil fuels, and today nearly 80 percent of the world’s current supply is produced this way — by means of coal, crude oil and natural gas. However, in addition to this, around 775 million people worldwide have no access to any electrical energy. This means that 2 in 10 people are unable to heat their homes or have light to see in the dark. A way this can be combatted is by using other sources of energy to create power. Geographers will have to think about what types of energy production methods with suit different cities. A coastal city might suit wind turbines just off the coast, whereas solar panels might be more compliant with a sunny city. In the future, it is very possible that it will not be strange for buildings to have windows that contain built-in transparent solar cells. There could perhaps even be systems where flushed toilet water could be boiled to replace other gases in turbine generators. In 2050, cities may have houses that produce energy for themselves.

Another thing that will certainly impact the future of cities is the rapid development of artificial intelligence. The global investment in AI has increased from 10 billion USD to almost 100 billion USD in the last five years. If this rate continues, then in 2050 the industry of AI could be worth trillions. One way we might see the effects of this in our cities is that many of them may look quite similar. This would be caused by architecture being designed by machines. It is likely that only important buildings will have human architecture, due to the fact that AI can become very skilled at its job. In addition to this, city planning jobs may also be taken over by AI who use algorithms to gauge the best placement for all elements of the city. Also, inside of buildings, low paid, difficult jobs, like cleaning public toilets, may be able to be carried out by learning machines. Overall, we will see more technology and machines in our cities in 2050, and they will be more developed and efficient than what we have in 2024.

Another thing that I believe will alter cities is the changes in their wealth. Every country in the world is currently developing, but not all in the same way. For example,

London is becoming more gentrified, with shops selling cheap goods being replaced by more high-end stores, however the conditions in the city of La Paz in Bolivia are rapidly becoming more run down because of overpopulation due to climate refugees having no choice but to relocate there. So many cities will have changed, but while some will have high wages and high-priced shops, others could unfortunately turn into a collection of shantytowns.

I also think that the primary sector, the industry of agriculture and raw material production, will see major change in order to adapt to our changing world. There has recently been a rise in the awareness of the public about lab-grown meats, and this can only increase in the future, so cities will probably gain more laboratories that research and produce these kinds of products. Also, as we now know more about the impact of farming crops and grazing cattle on the emission of fossil fuels such as CO2 and CH4, farmland will most likely be repurposed and there will be a shift to vertical farms — tall buildings where plants are grown in vertically stacked layers. These buildings are a great example of controlled-environment agriculture that would conserve some of the 4 trillion cubic metres of water and 48 million square kilometres of space we use. These buildings could be built anywhere; even the Shard could be one of these in the future!

The Charter School North Dulwich

The Charter School North Dulwich has been congratulated for being one of the top 100 non-selective state-funded schools in England. We have also won a ‘Pupil Premium Award’ for being one of the most improved schools in the country for our disadvantaged pupils’ attainments and value-added progress.

EMMA DEVITT

St Albans Girls School

Hope. For so long I waited. So long I wandered this dilapidated city. Looking for hope. Oh how I dreamed; and oh how I waited for this…this hope.

You are now where I stand 30 years in the future. But now it looks oh so different. The city that you live in seems normal beneath those blue skies, but to me that sounds like paradise. This city is no longer the utopia it once was…

The ominous smoke lingers on the ground. Crawling dense and pungent along the cracked pavement. The air hangs thickly, intoxicated by fumes admitted by the factories built by the hungry hands of man; eager for their next money making machine. It was always about money wasn’t it? Did it always have to be about the money? Brick by brick, man by man, woman by woman, person by person, they built these factories. And Brick by brick, man by man, woman by woman, person by person, they slowly broke our world. They painted the sky sinister and dark like ink, the everlasting flow of ash and smoke, the constant and rapid demolition of our environment. Buildings stand a mere memory of the magnificent architecture they once were. Traces of the old city still run through the new city, but they act more as ancient whispers. We live in a city made of danger and death.. The idea of a plant that takes nutrutrience from the corrupted soil is merely a dream, a forgotten memory. The cities are busy and loud, a constant flow of society. Screaming and crying children living in a mad world.

Many forget the importance of the people. A city is no city without a society. A city with no society is a meaningless construction. It is merely scaffolding and space. And within this city our society searches to each end of the earth; determination driving them forward. Dragging them to look in a constant frenzy for hope. Hope. Something we seemed to have lost in this modern city. Something blurred and blackened. Something signed by the pollution that rests on the horizon of the fallen town in which we survive. Some of us found something, not hope, but some dim, flickering light within someone or something. But hope seems extinct.

I walk now through what used to be such a beautiful park. I can only imagine how once water flowed like liquidised diamonds. Trickling in glorious falls. Emitting from rocks and shooting out from in between them. Grass rose from the ground like a thousand viridescent soldiers rising from the depths of the soil. The sun beamed down, sending curtains of light to drench us in its glory. All within this now destroyed park. Now the grass is dead, lying limp on the ground, drained of all former glory. The rocks have fallen and crumbled, finally broken by pressure that rested on its shoulders. Now water no longer flows. But a murky dampness remains where toxic rain did fall. Dim and weak, the sun attempts to reach us with its rays. But he fails, he tries but fails. Like how our environment tried and failed. And through this park I wander. As I do, I turn to see a playground. It saddens me, you know. I see this frame on which these children

climb. The way they smile and shriek in pleasure as they chase one another. The way that they, unlike us, can learn to be happy. To be content with the destruction and debris to which this world has become.

I now wander beyond the city lines, into a desolate wasteland. An abundance of dilapidated and dead crops that stretches out before me. It’s although the soil is death, and the sun is a prisoner. Locked away from the world. I turn back to the city. It looks back at me mournfully. Broken and defeated. Crumbling and worn out. Hope is still lost in the cracks and crevices in this despondent earth. And yet, as I turn back to the rubble I see a ghostly wisp of white caught between rocks. With my hand I attempt to salvage the mysterious object. And moving the rocks, I see a flower.

Built on these adulterated soils. A pure white flower. Petals are pristine and clean. So bright it hurts one's eye. All the petals wind into the flaxen centre. All this grew from an emerald stalk that rose proudly from the ground. And in that moment i realised. For this city, for the people and for me; by God, I found it. I found hope. And i look back apon my city. I see it in a new light. For now it has hope. No this beautiful city in which i survive, at long last it has hope.

St Albans Girls School

We are proud of our school and rightly so. Not only do we achieve excellent public examination results at all levels, but we have a thriving community with a superb extracurricular programme and a wealth of activities to engage all age groups.

ROSE GODWIN

Roundwood Park School

In 2050 cities will be unrecognisable. It's 2024. A hospital machine beeping like a horrible screechy serenade to death. The gap between each beat gets wider every time. The machine flatlines. Eyes fluttering closed, a noose of darkness suffocates you. As a small hole absorbs you. It could have been moments, days , weeks, years or zero time at all. Then pop, a small pin prick of light opens. Screaming, crying and congratulations another baby is born. The year is 2050.

In 2050 cities will be sleeker, quicker, faster. Petrol cars are no longer used, only sleek electric cars. There’s never any traffic and a car crash could never happen. In 2050 cities will be extremely technologically advanced. Robots will serve at restaurants, when you go somewhere new you have a robot show you around. They will be everywhere. Shopping can be delivered to your door by small motor robots any time of the day or night. In 2050 cities will be easier; you may have a chip inside your hand that can work as a car key, a house key, a card and a form of identification. You will never have to go to the doctor - modern medicine has come so far. All jobs are done on laptops, anything involving manual labour is being done by a robot. Perfect … Right?

But in 2050 will cities be perfect?

A midnight blue sky, small golden dots of light were spread around but it didn't shine quite the same anymore. The night is silent, eerily silent with a lack of life, like the soul had been sucked out of it. Stripped of its joy and pride. The night stood still ,it didn't want to start the day just as much as us. There is no cockerel call to wake you. There is nothing to wake you, it just feels like the world's cogs are grinding into action. I watch the day grind around me. The people like robots. I wander down the street and spot a small park at the end. Delusion expands in my brain like a huge balloon. My heart races. I could not keep up. Adrenaline pounds through my mind pushing me ever forward. My feet pound against the cold and unwelcoming gravel. I stare fixedly at the little gate, grey and simply ugly. A huge pop in my head of a balloon bursting. It felt Dark and foreboding. Behind the play park were huge office blocks towering 40, 50 or even 60 floors high. I thought they may have put the office block there to show the children where they would be stuck until they died. A vile smell I couldn't name filled my nostrils. It almost smelt like pollution - if you could smell it . A sharp pain in my mind. I gripped my throbbing head. Unable to breathe from the unimaginable pain, when a picture swam to the forefront of my mind. It was the gate except it was a vibrant red with small bits of paint chipped away from where the children pushed it open so many times. A beautifully pungent fresh smell filled my nostrils - lavish green grass and calming lavender. Examining my surroundings I saw a huge field of grass behind the play park filled with fresh wild flowers. A laugh of a little boy on his first time on

the swings filled my ears. Was this real , I carried on looking, absorbing all the rich and vibrant sourringings hungrily, I would never get enough. Their smiles are so full and the world so saturated with colour. The swish of the roundabout cutting through the air as three small girls giggled. A whoop from a small girl who had just won a race. A boy telling his mum what a great time he had. I wanted to be there, join them. Show them I was just like them. I told myself if I open my eyes I could see them. I opened my eyes, the smell of the grass, the laugh of the boy, the scream of the girl and the colour of the flowers all disappeared. I stood in front of the cold metal park trapped in the concrete jungle . The swing was half broken but the dark black leather obviously hadn't been used in years anyway. Rusting on the roundabout so thick it didn't look like someone could use it even if they wanted to.

Our future will be bleak, unsaturated and full of horrors we couldn't even dream up now. Society has a fear of the future, diving straight into the unknown knowing there's no way even to get a hint. A minute clue, a small suggestion of what may happen. You have to choose a path and hope the outcome falls in your favour. In 2050, cities will be unrecognisable.

Roundwood Park School, Harpenden

GHINWA GREENWOOD

Eltham Hill School

Igrab a newspaper from the stand, whilst wincing as the hot coffee burns my tongue. The year reads 2100, new year new me as I always say. Walking down the street I nod at the passing women on their way to work or to their daily exercises. Always being thankful of living under a matriarchal society, nostalgia washes over me as I remember the days when my mother would tell me stories of the women in power group, WIP uprising and slowly fixing the world the men broke. I smile at the WIP’s motto which is written in bold letters on the front of the news paper ‘We still have men… just not in power.’ On the newspaper the leaders of the WIP stand, all with huge smiles on their faces surrounded by animals, the black footed ferret, Peruvian Black spider Monkey, Amur leopard, at the bottom of the page it says that these animals were supposed to be extinct around 50 years ago. The WIP managed to retrieve them.

Sometimes, only when I ask, my grandma tells me stories of a much darker time around 50 years ago. The time of the patriarchy. She talks of absurdities like flowers growing in Antarctica due to the warm climate, she talks of genocides and ethnic cleansing, she talks of the age of technology and the ability of it to take over the world, she talks of animals dying and children being left to starve, she talks of women being unsafe. But by far the scariest thing that she talks about and the reason for all this chaos is the time, when the men, were in power, male prime ministers, male CEO’s, male managers. A shiver runs up my spine as I walk down the street, so grateful to be alive now rather than then.

Suddenly something hits me, strong metal bends to fit the shape of my body, blood runs down my cold face, the taste of iron and tears fill my mouth. Everything goes black and this beautiful dream fades further and further away from me.

I sit up abruptly, and take in my surroundings. Not remembering anything I search for a familiar face. I swing my legs over the lumpy bed, and look around the gloomy dull hospital room. The last thing that I remember is picking up the newspaper from the stool and it reading 2100, new year new me as I always say. Hesitantly I stand up, unaware that my body seems to have more or less recovered from whatever accident that I encountered. I walk down the melancholy corridor praying that someone I know appears. The florescent lights hang low and beam straight into my eyes, causing a sharp pain to shoot through my forehead, the dirty walls are painted a sickly colour of green as if someone has vomited all over them and they were never cleaned after. I look up at the small tv screen which is precariously hanging onto the wall with one thin screw, I shrivel back at the sight of a hard, angry and unrecognisable face my eyes dart around the screen whilst I attempt to find a sign of what ultra universe I am in. Not a single sole accompanies me. Abruptly, my eyes lock with what was staring at me in the face all this time. The date. The date reads 2050.

Horrifically, my hands shoot to grab my head as I attempt to fathom what insane magic has happened. I open the large glass doors and am faced with a cruel world.

Plastered on every wall that has a blank space, is the same harsh angry face that I saw on the TV screen, a bead of sweat forms at the back of my neck, and subconsciously I steady my slightly shaking hands, the date is the same day that I last remember being awake January first, just a different year. January first, so why is it so warm? A huge crowd of men walk past me their eyes glued to large technology screens that are permanently placed in front of them, naturally I follow. Tears spring to my eyes as I look in every passing window and see women with invisible chains locked on their arms, and bound to their kitchen sinks for eternity. My heart beats heavily in my chest as I see children begging on the streets. The crowd seems to stop and I look up at the short-frustrated man that is stood on the stage, he angrily shouts terrible things, yet the huge mass of men nod profoundly. I feel something tapping on my shoulder, I blink and I am back in the hospital room. This one looks slightly nicer. To my relief the date reads 2100. I just hope we won’t repeat history.

Eltham Hill School

We are a diverse and vibrant community and visitors say they can feel the creativity and warmth in our school simply from stepping inside the building. Creativity is at the heart of our innovative KS3 curriculum and we provide many varied opportunities for our students to discover and develop their talents.

SHAHREEN HUSAIN

Whitmore High School

Well, if only it were that easy to categorize the future years into distinct strata, disregarding the awaited tumultuous times and dismissing these by claiming ‘flying cars!’ or ‘robots!’- as in reality, this dystopian future which awaits us may be far nearer, and far more anomalous, than we’d have ever predicted.

I’m sure we have all heard of the infamous stories of AI, how it possesses the power to snatch our jobs and shatter our dreams of becoming pilots, doctors, astronauts with its infinite index of knowledge, a sheer array of information accessible at a single click. Humans- though effective, compassionate and earnest, aren’t precisely capable of solving countless equations in under a millisecond, or rather, naming the capital of Bhutan in a whirlwind. This uncertainty drives us to quote conspiracy theories about the power of AI, create podcasts and novels about its danger, (and even-it’s potential successes) and run like the wind for our poor penmanship which may be stolen by this programmed titan, as technology grows more and more innovate by the day. Clearly, the power of AI is growing so hastily, it leaves us little time to briefly ask ourselves- what will our cities really be like in the future?

To put it lightly, extremely different. Worldly different, even.

Though, AI may bring us great victories, despite it’s moderate losses- picture a world in which people could commute at the single twitch of a neuron, due to transportation developing alongside mind control- sounds rather Sci-Fi, right? Yet despite this, with the rate of AI growth at the moment, this is not an absurd idea! Hyper-modern transportation- a mere example within the colossal array of exponential development including growth of industry, remodelling the arts, and renovating finance, could have an incredibly positive impact on our cities. Our current society, many sadly plagued with inoperable disabilities or illnesses, could potentially be cured through the power of this otherworldly force of mastery which may surpass the effort of humans. So, if flying cars was not on your bucket list, you had better add it, because the world, as well as our cities, face unfathomable technological advancements to come.

Yet, what’s the use in experiencing an era of technological brilliancy if we aren’t around to witness it? With thousands of trees being cut down each day to millions of micrograms of smoke emerging into the atmosphere second by second, our prosperous, AI oriented cities will essentially be diminished by the toll of climate change on our planet. Global warming- the name a warning in itself- the worldwide sweltering of Earth through the mercenary actions of us humans is predominant issue which will alter the potential prosperity of our future cities.

This dire problem, though many may falsely view as the ‘next generations issue’ or a mere over exaggeration, will stifle our planet of its resources until our cities, our

countrysides, our dunes and our seas, will no longer be recognizable, and our future world may be struck with the irrevocable consequences of our current actions.

Despite this downcast message, it is not impossible to alter before it’s too late! Essentially, we are capable of deciding our own future in our cities, and whether trees will grow to be as rare and uncommon as gold, through our contemporaneous actions. Should we look to conserve energy and protect habitats, the future of our cities shines brightly, with the guaranteed sense of a safe, ecological environment that will outlive the existence of any AI. After all, plants, as well as humans, are alive, whilst AI, (though it may be questioned) is not.

Thus, what lies ahead may be an abstruse era of hasty technological advancement, or a hospitable and certainly green space should we look to reside in, essentially amounting to the fact that is our choices, our lives- and what we choose to do with the power that we have at this time.

At last, after the hazardous trials and tribulations of technology and climate changeour future cities would be tranquil and harmonious, a perfect habitat for all.

This may certainly be the case if it weren’t for the ever increasing problem of population, which is growing rampantly and will not stop anytime soon. As a result, our future cities, without a doubt, may face the consequences of rapid accommodation to meet the needs of this ever growing population. Conceptualize a world where huge huddles of people reside together, walking the same paths and aweing at the same recycled nature hikes, cities bursting at the seams with tourists and visitors alike. Sounds disconcerting, right?

However, this is a world we may have to become accustomed to, and one which, as with AI, may have significant advantages among our world. More people indubitably leads to more doctors, more teachers, more firefighters and more astronauts, which, as I mentioned in the beginning, was a factor so many of us are afraid to lose to the power of AI.

So, we should not fear our cities, or rather, our whole world, in the near future, yet should embrace its newcoming, as someone, somewhere, has a dream of becoming an astronaut- something which not AI, nor climate change, nor a demanding population growth can take away from our society.

Whitmore High School

KAVIN JAYAPRAKASH

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford

In 2050, cities will be foremost preoccupied with developing a measured and effective solution to the housing crisis.This will come about for various reasons. Most pressingly, there will be a considerable uptick in crime as a result of a rise in homelessness and exceedingly poor living standards. This will be true in virtually all major cities around the world – I refer to both the developed and developing world. Moreover, developed countries in particular will be scrambling to fix their demographic crises by attempting to lessen the burden on young parents. The existential threat from population decline will only rise as the century continues. Already in 2024, home ownership is cited as a key reason for young people’s avoidance of starting families. Governments will have to find a workable solution where they aim to both increase the population and house that growing population. The housing crisis and supplementary concerns will be etched into every political manifesto from Canberra to Edinburgh.

Kavin Jayaprakash

It is likely, however, that governments will initially attempt to focus on vertical construction as opposed to a more interventionist policy. As a result, the construction of flats will predominate regeneration and expansion projects until governments fully appreciate the gravity of the situation. Eventually, city authorities will choose to discard their old prejudices against direct action, allowing for genuine positive change to be made. I envision governments coming to terms with their duty to construct affordable housing on a large scale.

Certainly, pro-natal policies will totally reshape how cities are structured. Proposals for 15-minute cities will go from paper to concrete as convenience becomes a serious concern for governments. The idea of easy access to necessary outlets will become paramount for a government encouraging young families to form. I expect that there will be a proliferation of free childcare provision that is designed to remove parents’ physical and emotional labour from the equation – this will go hand-in-hand with the redesigning of cities to improve convenience.

When I argue that convenience will take centre stage, I mean in the sense that authorities will prioritise the total regeneration of certain sectors for the introduction of young families. In London, this will likely be currently post-industrial or economically backward areas. It is more likely than not that these areas will be in the outer stretches of London, i.e. those areas that lack any serious economic weight as of now. One prime example would be Barking & Dagenham, which is prime for redevelopment should a competent government see to it.

In line with the focus on ending the housing crisis, it is likely that the wilful defence of certain urban green spaces will be toned down. This will be part of the natural strong reaction to decades of NIMBYism dominating public discourse around the topic of nearly every government infrastructure initiative in recent times. The exception that almost certainly will be made is that of the careful maintenance of those green spaces which have a cultural or historical significance.

In terms of the visual aesthetic of these settlements, I foresee many governments following the Parisian example where new buildings are purposely built to follow a certain traditional or pseudo-traditional architectural style. In England, a fantastical and rather romantic possibility could be the return of Gothic Revival architecture –after all, this style was originally intended to be the national style. More practically, however, it is more likely that the redevelopments follow – if any – the New Urbanist philosophy of Poundbury, which itself was designed to consciously emulate traditional architectural exemplars.

There is also no doubt that western governments will undergo some level of protectionist policy in terms of the ownership of their assets. As hawkish elements eye the current international scene intently, there will be increased demand to secure domestic private ownership of certain institutions. This began recently with the British government preventing the sale of the Daily Telegraph, but I believe that this attitude will soon be extended to infrastructure (e.g. airports, bridges, monuments, etc.), as well as switching from a reactive approach to an active one that rolls back existing affronts to national security.

Overall, I believe that cities in 2050 will be undergoing a transformative period of innovation and I expect this to be the product of a period of great social discontent. Nevertheless, I foresee a world in which cities have begun to develop past these fundamental issues such that they have found an ample response to the problems from which they currently suffer.

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford London Academy of Excellence is the academic sixth form for independent thinkers. We are committed to our sixth formers developing the knowledge, skills and interests that will give them broad and rich life choices in a complex and changing future.

GRACE KENT

St Albans Girls School

It was the future – the year 2050. New AI technologies had remodelled cities in ways that were equally admirable and unsettling. Cities had unfathomably made life a hundred stories above ground. AI controlled cars navigated urban avenues at supersonic speeds their passengers were lulled into a sense of false security by their electronic protectors.

But even the best of them were corrupted by the environmental devastation wrought by the climate. Sea levels had risen and devastated the streets of dozens of coastal cities and millions of people were left homeless. Wildfires had decimated vast sections of forests and greenery had been replaced by endless charred wastelands. Droughts had dried out land and crops were dying by the millions.

Another of the world’s many coastal cities to master AI defences against climate catastrophe was New England, which used to be called England, one of the first urban centres to adapt technologically and biologically to the challenges of extreme warming. Its skyscrapers had immense solar panels that harvested energy from shining sunlight,

and its streets were shaded by trees that simultaneously fed them clean air, scrubbing carbon dioxide from the sky in a race against the blistering heat.

But even New England was not immune: the once-bustling centre of the great city was a ghost town. The wealthy had long since fled to their AI-controlled homes, abandoning the poor to the ruins of the city.

As New England’s population dwindled, the city responded the only way it knew how: with a lockdown on everything but AI-controlled drones patrolling the streets, watching for signs of life and tracking down anyone who ventured outside due to the threat of pollution. The few remaining homeless huddled in their makeshift shelters in fear, knowing the moment they stepped outside they would be hunted down by the malfunctioning AI.

However, a small flicker of hope shone through the darkness. A small group of teenage rebels had finally had enough of the fear, the pollution, and the cruelness of life. They had a plan to stop this disease of malfunctioning AI and pollution from spreading further, but they knew it could cost them everything. Will they be strong enough?

After all, the future is not a river to carry them. It is the ocean that they will drown in if they are not prepared for the sacrifices and commitment that will be made.

St Albans Girls School

OM KURAVINAKOP

St Olaves Grammar School

In 2050, cities won’t be crawling with robot dogs, run by an AI Prime Minister and certainly not close to solving most world issues. However, they will be home to an exponential amount of Homo Sapiens, developing urban areas into mega cities, pushing limits of technology and transport, and will be faced with the direct effect of Climate Change. While this is a list with only a few of the endless challenges, they encompass a broad range of pressing and important issues, even though there are many in-between.

2050’s Cities: AI? If you count revolutionising urban life and infrastructure, then yes. First, architects will be able to put their feet up, as AI will optimise urban network transportations, energy girds and water systems. This can also be used for predictive maintenance, traffic management and efficient resource allocation, leading to reduced congestion, energy consumption and water waste. This is seen in the many burgeoning projects and initiatives, such as ‘AI For Good’, that are currently requesting donations to help develop further their software. AI For Good has already published ‘Pilot City Reports’ for Kelenna, in Canada, and Long beach, in California; Andreas Boehan stated that they are, “developing new smart city applications and solutions”. AI can also be used for personalised services, such as healthcare, education and politics will be hinder this massively. Till then, we will have to deal with Chat GPT and furious teachers.

2050’s Cities: Overcrowded and diverse? Definitely, as demographic projections suggest continued population growth. For example, it is estimated populations will exceed 9 billion by 2050, where most of them will be in Asia, with India and China expected to exceed 1 billion a piece; Cities such as Lagos, Shanghai, Delhi and Tokyo are also projected to be among the largest. This will cause a rise in mega-cities and diverse urban populations and a rise in problems: governance, resource management and social cohesion will become increasingly difficult as urban sprawl causes cities to use up more land than ever; environmental problems and fragmented countries could entail from this. It may also lead to environmental issues such as increased resource consumption and carbon dioxide emission and air pollution. This means that either there is a miraculous technological breakthrough, as Ester Boserup proclaims, or sustainable urban planning and stringent environmental policies will be to be put in place for things to work out smoothly health-wise…resource finding is another issue altogether. Migration will also continue to shape the city, influencing cultures and people’s life in general.

2050’s cities: terrific transport? It is predicted that by 2050, anti-car planning will lead to almost car-free streets, with remaining ones being electric. Many also project that roads with have migrated to underground networks that work with the ecosystem rather than blocking it, much like Kuala Lumpur’s 9.7km Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel, combining transport and flood control. This opportunity is not one to waste,

which is why companies such as Hyperloop as developing high speed (up to 679 mph) electric shuttles that are ten times faster than traditional rail- meaning a Paris to London trip sub-thirty minutes. Another change will be in ‘sky bridges’ where urban areas will be fitted with bridges connecting multiple high-rise buildings. This is already in use, such as in the Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore, and will be fuelled by emerging technology, such as Multi – a cable less elevator system that can move vertically and horizontally. What fuels this transport will also change, with a complete shift from fossil fuels to sustainably produced electricity and other alternatives. However, studies by Innovate UK – the UK’s national innovation agency– predict that fossils fuels will still be the dominant vector (a method to transport energy and stock it) in 2025 and even 2030. This will have to change by 2050 if net zero targets will be achieved. Their studies also show that hydrogen will be a significant vector for the heavy goods and public transport in 2050. Furthering this, 90% of the urban transport that these sources will fuel will be autonomous, which means fully autonomous public transport and potentially drone delivery systems. The impact of these changes will be apparent, as businesses can flourish, strengthening the economy and online retail, as delivery systems will become more seamless.

In 2050, cities won’t be as we expect, like most things in life; we must embrace the new and constantly learn and push forward for a future that is better, not only for us, but for the common good of humanity. Writing this essay has really made me think about how we manage our world and the severe global issues that are currently present: War, Famine, Politics. Politics can come in the way of progressing, which I think is a shame: when I think of what humanity can achieve, I am excited.

St Olaves Grammar School

St. Olave’s Grammar School is a boys highly selective secondary school in Orpington, Greater London, England founded by royal charter in 1571.

EMIL KUTZ-ROLLINGS

The Charter School North Dulwich

One can barely get sleep in this city. The sirens of emergency vehicles are like a constant ringing in your ear. I got up and left that tumultuous slumber in my creaky bed that ought to be put down; but a new one would be too expensive, so I had to make do. Careful to not disturb my brother I walked into our long, dingy corridor. The hole in its wall reminded me, as it did every time, the night our flat was broken into a few months ago. The assailant stood no chance against my brother who was still built like a bulldozer from his rugby days. The kitchen was no better, the door of a cabinet hung loosely on its hinges, I really need to fix that. With my breakfast I sat on a chair that was holding up pretty well but creaked as though it were dying.

I finished my breakfast, brushed my teeth, got changed, and left my flat. It was way worse out there. My flat block was crumbling, railings rusting, one even collapsed, leading to a rather quicker way down the stairs.

The morning was quiet with a cold breeze, clouds blocked out the sun, British weather. As I continued on my way, I stopped briefly to listen to a radio playing the news on the other side of a door. “Citywide chaos and corporate collapse in every city, everywhere, all over the globe”. Corporations, the root of it all. 200 years ago, the industrial revolution clutched us up in their grasp. Around 120 years ago most of the world’s workers took agency and won some power. 24 years ago, jobs were being overrun by AI, dropping like flies. One evening I found my brother on the stairs drunk to the brink of death after he, amongst the many lost his job. A year later war drones went haywire and the AI couldn’t decipher between soldiers and civilians. We essential ended up with a war against that AI. It ended fairly quickly but some drones survived and there are still cases of rogue drones killing people, albeit rarely. We were fed up and the government wasn’t putting any restrictions in place. We had enough and fought it; some violent, some peaceful. I remember going to my friend’s house and seeing Molotov cocktails on his kitchen table. I realised then how severe our situation was. Our little green and blue planet tainted red. That’s when I began to lose hope, it was all so tiring.

It took a while, but the government restricted AI and gave our rights back. Yet the damage stuck, unemployment was at an all-time high.

Corporate lust continued, blinded by the thirst for growth. They sucked the oil out and out ignoring pleas to change their ways. Our industry is built around it and when it started to dry up life became very expensive. Life became too expensive, so we stopped paying. Citywide chaos and corporate collapse. Have we learnt nothing from Icarus?

I continued on my way, ignoring the call to the void to take that fallen railing’s path, it’d only take a few seconds. I took the stairs instead and as I got to the bottom, I saw three people taking shelter under a balcony for the night. We couldn’t even take care of our own kind. We truly have failed as a species. Down the road a shop front shutter

had been cut through and the contents inside ransacked. The government talked about enforcing a curfew, but would it really work? Desperate people do not care about rules; though neither do people who have everything.

Further on, the smell of smoke tingled in my nose, someone had started a fire to keep warm. Not too large as to be dangerous though, arson was an activity for the night. I watched the flames flicker orange red and yellow. Burning bright. One theory of how the universe will end suggests that all energy and matter will spread and be evenly distributed all across everything that is, this process is called entropy, a process of destruction. My brother once told me that he believed that everything in the universe existed to speed this destructive process up. Stars for example, take matter and burn it as fuel to create energy. It’s very efficient sure, but a whole lot faster than nothing.

What do living things do? They take energy, through photosynthesis, or eating other things and use it to make energy for themselves. And it is always so very inefficient. Energy is always lost. We speed up the break down of resources, we speed up the entropy. Life is simply there to destroy, but better. And we are bloody brilliant at our job. The ultimate destroyers, we, the homo sapiens. Sapiens being Latin for “intelligent”, what a joke.

The Charter School North Dulwich

JESSICA LEE

Roundwood Park School

Cities in 2050 will be nothing like now, a completely new version of what we know. But one thing’s for certain, what we do now, will decide down which path we go.

Perhaps I’d hop out of bed, and skip down the stairs, the sun peeking over the horizon. As the new day dawns, I’d step outside, where the flowers would make my eyes widen. The white fluffy clouds would dance on the breeze, welcoming the crisp morning life. The blossom trees would bloom, tall and proud, homing the wonderful wildlife.

Or would I go outside, to smell the fresh air, but learn that ‘fresh’ doesn’t exist. For the great city smog tries to choke my lungs, and threatens to end me like this. The grey clouds would fly over, before pelting down and order me to stay inside. The rumble of thunder would ring in my ears, so to the weather’s orders I must abide.

No, I’d leap through the city, staring up at the buildings, each one leaving me in awe. No two look the same, each a new burst of colour, leaving me more dazzled than before. There’s one shaped like a circle, one made of snow, and there’s even one above the clouds. There’s one covered in glitter, one on stilts, and there’s even one standing upside down.

But perhaps the stuffy air would suffocate me as I trudge, what do you mean a clear outside? I would look up at the sky, but then down at the ground, hearing the crows cries. Each building: the same, a copy of the next, painted a depressing grey. Uniformed windows, perfectly straight doors and like soldiers the trees stand and stay.

But maybe green roofs and green walls paint the city with colour, feeding the clean air. Gardens stretch extensively, all throughout, so beautiful you couldn’t compare. Solar panels sit on every roof, drinking the sun beams as juice for the day. Wind turbines spin both morning and night, powering the city with no delay.

But what if we pump thick gases and smoke into the earth every second? The earth would suffer, gasping and heaving for breath, we’re destroying it, don’t you reckon? But what if I told you this is our earth now, not some imagined future. With every day passing, the earth grows weaker, and slowly, slowly withers.

Cities are crowded right to the brim, It’s a battle to squeeze your way through. The thick smoke makes you splutter, and the wretched smell makes you spew. The towering buildings crowd, as you walk, they menacingly surround you. You feel there’s no escape, how you long to see something new..

But there’s hope around the corner, there’s sunshine over the hill. There’s hope for 2050, there’s light at the end still…

Cities in 2050 will be nothing like now, a completely new version of what we know. But one thing’s for certain, what we do now, will decide down which path we go.

Roundwood Park School, Harpenden

ROSA LOVE

St Albans Girls School

Different. Each city has changed a lot, though it was not noticeable at the time. A man says to his daughter, “After lunch we can go to the record shop, my mate Tony runs it.”

“What record shop, who’s Tony?” she asks. The record shop no longer exists, and Tony is no longer alive, that place sell wedding dresses now, owned by a woman called Lisa, she has been there for at least ten years, though he always forgets. While he walks down the deserted market place, he passes a shop that used to be a donut place, now there’s a card shop, he looks at the notice board, a thirty year anniversary sale, that can’t be right, it only opened a few years ago, he remembered taking his wife to the donut shop that stood there when they were in their twenties. He is fifty six now, it can’t have been that long he thought. Wasn’t there just a market here? The wind blew an empty paper bag down the empty street, the smell of the fishmonger’s stall faint in the air. Across the road stood the post office, he remembered that well, the red door frame contrasting with the ageing bricks, the large window down the side that showed all the different parcel registers and conveyor belts. Except the post office was not opposite him. There on the other side of the road, stood a rather glamorous looking pub, a fancy, swirling logo above the door and a warm glow inside, showing various tables and chairs. This can’t be happening, if not here where was the post office? What had happened? The red door frame was painted black and there was no sign of any conveyor belts inside. He looked up and down the empty street, surely it should be market day, right? Where were all the stalls? Had it gotten that dark so quickly? He looked at his watch and the batteries were dead, the hand stuck on noon, or midnight. Just like him, he supposed. He trudged back home, passing shops that should not be there. Was it that he had just woken up to this? Had his eyes closed so much to the world around him that he could no longer see what was changing? He didn’t even know year or day of the week it was.

He bought a newspaper from a small convenience shop he had never seen before, the change in his pocket far smoother and brighter than the coins he used to buy the paper. He sat on a park bench in the fading twilight, the font had changed, as had the formatting and logo, once yellow with black, now blue with white. The date said Sunday, 11th September, 2050, at least twenty years later than the man’s estimate. He looked to the side of him, expecting his daughter to be there, but no, she had long left this city, moved in with her fiance and their cat. He reads an article: “Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon Season 9 Review.” that definitely was not right, that show only had two seasons. Or had he forgotten about that too…?

“Why didn’t I notice anything changing until it was to late?” the man thought, “I’ve spent these last twenty five years not seeing anything.”

The air feels cleaner. Even in the depleting daylight he can see how clear the air is.

He can hear the sound of birds and insects. The only thing on the paving stones of the city’s high street was a single paper bag and a few dry, brown leaves. He sees a picture of a solar panel plant on the paper, “New Solar Farm Opening on the Outskirts of Stevenage!”, next to it there is an article saying: “City Cinema Reopening After Ten Years of Closure.”. He didn’t even know the cinema had closed. He begins to look through the article, eyes wide open after years of being closed, “Improvements Made to National Sewage System”, “Elana Owen, City Mayor Resigns After a Term of Five Years”, “Why the Green Ring is Safe From Housing Development”, “Hedgehogs Are No Longer an Endangered Species”, “Decrease in Inflation By Up To - 4.3%”. The man smiles, how could he have missed all this? How much the city had changed in twenty five years, it shocked him, and he doubted he would ever be able to remember all that had happened, all the shops that had closed and opened, all the small changes that you would not notice at first glance, but there had been some good changes too. That home appliance shop that never had quite the right things had closed, replaced by a crépe cafe, he would have to take his daughter there the next time they met up. Reaching into his pocket, picking out his phone and dialling his daughter’s number. He could not wait to show her all that had changed in the twenty five years he had not been paying attention.

St Albans Girls School

ANYA MAUNDER

Eltham Hill School

The water surrounds me. Blue all around. It has been like this for years now, the houses of the people that used to live here wrecked by floods, beautiful floods that love to destroy.

I grew up here, in Venice. When I was a child I remember the long canals and boats and the tourists admiring what to me was just home. There are no tourists now. No one wants to come to see the city of water, for now it is not a city, just water.

It is not calm, not rough, the tide is relaxed enough for a child to swim through it but strong enough that it keeps you on your toes, able to drown you whenever it feels like it. Whenever it’s in the mood.

My head is poking out of the water, only my toes touching the wooden plank covering the sea-floor. I am alone and glad of it. This place used to be great, now it blends with the other shades of ocean around.

When I was young, I lived with my parents in a house overlooking one of the canals. We lived on top of an ice cream shop and I remember smirking as we walked past the long queues in the summer into the shop. I remember the long walks and museums and when my parents gave in to my begging for ice cream. I remember going on gondolas with my friends, each of us taking turns to stand at the top and push the rest of the group along. We always fell in. Onlookers would give us strange looks but we ignored them. Being Venetian was my pride, but now whenever I tell someone this they look at me with pity and sorrow. How hard it must’ve been when you had to evacuate. How hard it must’ve been when you saw children drown. How hard to leave the only place you knew. True, it was hard at first, but I now look back at this place with a smile, not a tear.

I do remember the time my parents told me we would have to leave, though. It was not as flooded as it is now, but wind had caught word that it would be soon. I was told to pack what I could in whatever I knew I could swim with. I was sixteen, and, though I had known that this was coming, it still shocked me when it did. The water had risen up to my knees and we waded through it until it dissipated into dry land. My body has been on English soil ever since, but my heart never left Venice.

Now, my body is back where it belongs, floating mindlessly in the water, blue, blue, blue again.

I am staring at the ruins, wood floating on the surface, debris from years ago. I see the bricks of houses families had once lived in. Families I would have known. The amount of people that died when everything was washed away is not known. I wonder how many people that lived here in these houses now under sea, died, were washed away. I wonder if they were at peace when they died. The woman I saw die as my parents were pulling me by an aching arm out of the city, was screaming, then choking, then nothing. I closed

my eyes after that and didn’t open them until we were safe from that lovely monster, stumbling around, a blind woman clutching my body and my bag.

I dunk my head under the water, black hair flowing out behind me like a fan. I feel inhuman, bubbles blowing out of my mouth, forming perfect circles in front of me. I see blood on the brick, maybe it is just the remains of red paint, that is what I would like to think any ways, what I wish I could believe. But it is too hard. Looking around, I see women and children, smiling, eating, living, unaware. I blink and they are gone. I blink again and they are there again, right in front of me, flesh and skin and all. Then the wave that pulls me a metre away from where I had been standing washes them away. Everything is silent. My lungs burn, my lungs burn. I have been down too long. My lungs burn. Bursting out of the water like prey from its hiding spot, I rise again coughing up water, returning it to its mother.

I look around once more, at this city that I used to know. And I know that I, nor the world, will forget that day. The day that Venice went underwater.

Eltham Hill School

AHMED MINSHAD

Bow School

In 2050, cities will be revolutionised by knowledge and prosperity that fuels the growth we see in today’s society. But often we can be hindsighted by the future; the ambiguity of what ought to be is overwhelmingly intriguing. The future is a brisk vacancy, masked in possibilities we pursue to change and expand the world we live in, forgetting the problems we create in the present. It tempts us to think we can push these problems aside and forget about them, but they never fail to come around, be it in 2050 or not.

“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes’, we say, but when is that bridge too brittle or narrow or long? Our governments beg to differ that climate change is a credible threat to our livelihoods. In 2035 all the cars on our road will be electric, they’ll build offshore wind farms and minimise the use of fossil fuels, until we’re net zero by 2050 they promise. Yet these issues don’t seem to be the focus of what we call growth. In 2050 our cities will still thrive on the innovation of technologies: we’ll carelessly allow AI to deliver our packages, drive our cars, protect national data and automate decisionmaking and analysis to a level beyond human expertise. PWC estimates that AI has the potential to increase global GDP by $15.7 trillion by 2030, let alone by 2050. The economic potential of AI is exceptionally lucrative, but how big of a part does money play in what we call a better future? No matter how large the numbers are, can they ever permit the world to look away from global tragedy?

Cui bono? Is a Latin term describing that probable responsibility for an act lies with one having something to gain. Every decision we make beckons the question- who benefits? Freedom of choice is a liberty we can’t put a price on, but its value is taken for granted. Ultimately, growth is subjective. In 2050, some of our cities will stand tall with modern infrastructure, sustainable technology and efficient transportation, perfectly categorising a developed city. Shareholders will be paid higher dividends, businesses will turn over growing profits, managers will receive greater bonuses and workers will gain higher salaries. In 2050, some may live in gardens of paradise, ones that nurture comfort and tranquility, the perfect image of awe, but others will be left behind. Will it be because they aren’t of the pure and righteous? Had opportunity been so equitable we could distinguish those that are worthy, but power proves to be in the hands of the undeserved tyrants.

Despite being in an era of ever-increasing globalisation and national integration, we turn our backs on some of the most brutal humanitarian crises in history. Cities are plagued by inequality, oppression, displacement and dictatorship, leaving homes, communities, cultures and lives as collateral damage. Fatality looms over cities of rubble, where hope is a slippery slope, plunging into deeper despair. Innocence is evanescent in cities, where turmoil tightens into a suffocating grip. Silenced, they weep

in broken words and thoughts, for livelihood is all they might live for. Meta-cognition is what separates us from AI: the ability to think about our thinking, doubt ourselves and pursue what we don’t know is programmed into us humans. Self-reflection isn’t a binary decision, but an opportunity to question how we can grow. In 2050, will we still fail to learn from our mistakes in the past? If millions of martyrs aren’t enough to wake up the world then what is? With sealed lips, they bystand the recession of humanity, so tell me, can wealth, fortune, assets and cash buy these lives back?

Bow School

Bow School is a modern and progressive school, underpinned by forward-thinking values and a vision to prepare every student for the future, to be World and Career Ready.

FLO NORTH

The Charter School North Dulwich

IN 2050 CITIES WILL BE.... full of aliens? Overcrowded with hoverboarding teenagers? Humanity is extinct? Cities run completely by robots? I don’t think so.

Think of the movie ‘Back to the Future’, in 1985 they predicted that in 2015 the streets would be full to the brim with flying cars, and groovy hoverboards. I don’t have to tell you that this is not the case. Repeatedly people try to predict the amazing changes that are going to happen in the space of twenty or thirty odd years and it’s almost never the case – especially when their predictions are so ambitious they could almost be viewed as comedic. So, I won’t do that here, I will try to keep the jetpacks and teleportation predictions to a minimum.

It’s certainly true that AI (Artificial Intelligence) will have an impact on our cities in 2050, but by how much? With the race for AI (much like the race to put a man on the moon), everyone is trying to make their best and most efficient contribution so I believe that in 2050, cities will be vastly impacted by AI. Now I’m not saying we’ll all have personal robots that do everything for us (which would be fun). I am saying that cities will become much more automated, more objects will become part of the Internet of Things (smart devices) and we might even have smart cities (cities that are full of objects connected to the Internet of Things), as some scientists predict. As a result, it will be easier for people to manage emergencies, as there will always be a device around to assist – making cities safer. Cities will also be more efficient as there will be more access to transport – people will be able to check bus times or call an Uber from their washing machine. This isn’t as outlandish as it may seem. Twenty years ago, it would have been absurd that a car could talk to you, but now they do – so, in the field of AI and cities there’s little that doesn’t seem possible by 2050.

The development of technology will help the automation of cities, and will also have drawbacks, particularly for businesses. It’s estimated that 16% of workers in the UK in 2023 work exclusively from home, and I believe that that number is bound to increase as technology improves the ease of working remotely. With more people not eating out and about during or after work, the food industry will take a hit – this will be manageable for big corporations, but the small businesses will die out, which will transform the landscape of cities as we know them now. With a decrease in independent businesses, cities will become more commercialised and ethically ambiguous large businesses will take over more and more.

I’m starting to think I’ve rambled on a tad too much about technology, but I guess that’s what happens when you give a computer science student the chance to write an essay...

Moving on, there are certain obvious issues I’m yet to address. Global warming and over-population. I’m not going to go into the science of it because to be honest

I don’t have a clue how it will be changed in 2050, but I will speak about how cities can (and should) be developed by 2050 to manage the impacts. Starting off strong, I believe there will be more enforced green initiatives, such as reverting to brown paper bags in supermarkets; specialised bins on the streets for recycling; cars that run on solar energy and electricity (new versions of the current hybrid cars); restrictions on singleuse plastic items. I believe this will bring down pollution, creating an increase in life quality and expectancy. Additionally, I hope that buildings will be adapted to help with the rising over-population. To do this, there may be restrictions on the amount of living space allocated to people. For example, having two people living in a six-bedroom house is absurd when it is more common for six people to share a two-bedroom flat. Therefore, there should be limits set so that the number of rooms in a home is proportional to the number of people living in that home (ie three people for a three-bedroom flat). I believe that this will help resolve some over-population issues for the cities of 2050 and possibly help address issues created by the class system.

In conclusion, these are all hopeful guesses at what cities will be in 2050, from the automation of cities and green initiatives to housing solutions. But there’s no sure way of knowing – we could all be living on Mars... Either way, I suppose that whatever happens, the world will be a quite different place to what we know now. And that’s a good thing because no city should stand still.

The Charter School North Dulwich

BENJAMIN OLUKA

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford

AI: A BRIGHTER TECHNOLOGICAL FUTURE

Intelligence cannot be expressed using finite words. Defining intelligence is a task often presumed understood, yet its definition eludes many. The blend of beauty and ambiguity of AI in our generation is one to not be dismissed. It is defined using designs of computer algorithms and methodologies in order to imitate a human’s intelligence. This is where the term “artificial” originated from, however there is nothing disappointing about this computational device. AI has rapidly been introduced to our society and has integrated thoroughly; through processing data and replacing human capital to even possibly imitating a real-life person. It would be absurd to say that the significance of AI in our world right now is anything but astonishing. By 2050, AI will most definitely have a significant influence on the design and construction and management of the built environment, reshaping urban landscapes worldwide.

According to sources, over the last 5 years, research in machine learning has “exploded” in order to encourage change in society. Networks such as Siri and Alexa or even self driving cars are forms of Artificial intelligence and can be “trained to discover latent patterns and relationships that may not be apparent to humans whilst looking at data independently”. Using Deep Neural Networks (DNN) in design and architecture is much more complicated and can be seen as more efficient. It can guide architects into making eco-friendly choices throughout the design process due to its ability to analyse immense amounts of data. Architects will be able to predict energy consumption and strike a balance between design aesthetics and eco-friendly material use. Notions like these are what will differentiate the future from the present. Some examples of AI driven design tools are Maket.ai, a tool that helps architects and designers generate various visual styles and floor plans. This is generally for housing and can help homeowners cut down on design costs as they don’t have to consult multiple landscape designers.

Moreover, AI has been adopted in construction engineering and management as the sector experiences a rapid digital transformation. A source states: “A survey from McKinsey Global institute in 2017 states that the global construction industry makes up around 13% of the world’s GDP”. The main issue is poor labour productivity during construction, leading to a waste of workforce and important resources. If AI is implemented and “construction productivity increases by 50% to 60%, it is estimated to bring an additional $1.6 trillion into the industry’s value each year”. Examples of how AI can be implemented in construction is through the use of drones and autonomous vehicles for site surveying, material delivery and construction monitoring. This will help to overview the entire construction process and facilitate the entire process and make it much more efficient. Moreover, AI can be used to 3D print and modular construction

Benjamin Oluka

techniques can be employed to formulate visual buildings to make the process much easier. An example of 3D software used in construction is COBOD, the world’s most widely used 3D construction printer.

Furthermore, the transportation industry has gone through many different tribulations in order to evolve from the first steamboat in 1787. During recent years, technological advancements have “laid a hand in its remarkable journey of innovation and evolution”. AI is also beginning to be primarily used in various aspects of the transportation system. The visions of self-driving cars are becoming increasingly realistic and transportation in the upcoming years will make a grand transformation. Moreover, AI can be used to control traffic more effectively, saving several costs for the government and reducing traffic congestion and lessen carbon emissions. Some effects of successful implementations of AI is reduced carbon footprint; smart driving and automatic vehicles can reduce vehicle emissions which will ultimately assist in improving air quality and combat climate change and foster a cleaner environment. In addition, AI driven driver systems can offer heavy layers of safety. Certain features such as collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control can help prevent several accidents. Studies show that in 2021, around a fifth of all killed involve a young driver. Young individuals are the people that tend to utilise technology so by applying artificial intelligence, these casualties will eventually begin to decrease: “Between 2004 and 2021, casualties from a collision involving at least one younger car driver decreased from 12,629 to 4,529, a fall of 64%”-GOV.UK. Some challenges with AI in transport includes possible leakage of data. Many components, including IoT devices and data analytics software, are designed to be able to exchange data. This is against the law of the Data Protection Act of 2018. Moreover, AI components such as IoT sensors may need an internet connection in order to transmit real time data. Lack of a connection may lead to inefficiency. Several strategies to mitigate AI’s impact includes using bandwidth efficient communication protocols(MQTT) to minimise network dependency and utilising the Cloud which is backed up by several layers of security to protect data.

In conclusion, the integration of AI into society, from construction and architecture to transportation and pollution management, shows a fantastic path towards a more efficient and safer future. By successfully using the capabilities of AI to visualise designs, streamline construction processes, prevent casualties in transport and mitigate pollution, we are assured to change how we interact with our environment. As AI has many benefits, we must take into account the negatives to these advancements; it is important to prioritise ethical considerations to ensure AI has our best interests in hand. Regardless, it is not trivial to assert that AI could potentially be the transformation we need to bring about a brighter tomorrow.

1 Pal, S. (2018). Artificial intelligence in architecture: Generating conceptual design via deep learning: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1478077118800982 [accessed 25 March 2024]

2 Pan, Y. (2021). Roles of artificial intelligence in construction engineering and management: A critical review and future trends: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926580520310979 [accessed 24 March 2024]

3 Srivastava, S (2023). AI in transportation-10 benefits and use cases for Modern Enterprises: https://appinventiv.com/blog/ai-in-transportation/#:~:text=AI%20contributes%20to%20the%20evo lution,making%20driverless%20cars%20a%20reality.&text=AI%20for%20transportation%20can%20 help,traffic%20conditions%20and%20potential%20hazards. [accessed 21 March 2024]

4 Shamkina, V (2023). AI in transport: 8 use cases, real-life examples, technologies & challenges: https://www.itransition.com/ai/transportation [accessed 20 March 2024]

GABRIELLA PACE

Eltham Hill School

In 2050, cities will be void of a single soul. Dense smog will cover the sky, a blank, crumpled piece of paper with not a single word written on. The beings will walk, back and forth, to and fro, in the grey world, the smoke clogging their eyes, turning them bloodshot. Some will crawl on the tiles, sit on the concrete of the streets, wrapped in thin blankets. Staring at the towering black buildings, lined with cracks at their very core, building to the clouds, staring down, sucking up money and leaving the corpses dry. They will be ignored, pushed aside, left to decay, as the other beings scrabble to their work, the smell of death clinging to their clothes. It is the smell of the average every day, the casual nine to five, trailing behind them, filling up train carts.

Upon arrival, fluorescent lights will drown them completely, walled in to only look at the single screens and their flickering blue light. Towers of paper will climb above them, the day’s work. Some will climb so high they will crush the one under it, a pen falling from their ink-stained hands before they’re dragged off. The ones left will not even blink, carrying on as the wavering noise of hum-buzz and clicking seeps into their brains. The outside barely visible through the blockades and mist.

Some will exist in their dingy, one room apartments (somehow stuffing six inside). Watching the television, picking at a noodle in the darkened broth. Listening to the jibber of a man throwing down bombs, playing face, saying it is in good faith. Righteousness will have been dragged into the murky waters by those with eyes printed by a banker’s thumb. They will be too numbed by the noise to even resist.

Next door, thousands will lay in beds, together yet apart. Their bodies concrete, the very material they build out of, drenched in the neon lights of the red district. Their tongues sealed shut. If words escaped them, a rarity, they would disintegrate. The aftertaste of ash lingering at the back of their throats. Left only to stare at the films of white, with no light behind them.

The small ones will fill up the greying school yards, the identical boxes of twenty-five metres. Desks cluttered together, looking down to the scrawl of ashen words setting out their paths. Unable to stare upward, because what is there to look at? They will have forgotten what the stars look like, the photos they have, unreliable. Unable to tentatively reach out their hand to the silhouette in front of them. Their souls defined by a blank piece of paper.

Some will flock to His House, a stronghold of decayed brick and idle promises. The ones that fit inside will crowd in the pews, sway on the red carpet, plush with tears and hopes, dizzy with desperation. Muttering the same distorted lines as the Herder up at the front, changed from the past in a way they don’t know.

The others will hoard outside the walls, falling onto their knees while clawing at the brick in a sickness that is far from their fault. Overwhelmed by the black, stretched-

out shadow of the cross, the small piece of metal indiscernible as it looks down from a monstrous place built in its name. It will say nothing.

The ones who do not fit in there? They will travel to the empty spaces, the places where life used to breathe, though they will not know its name anymore. They will clasp their hands together whispering the same half remembered words (closer than the other ones), writing wishes onto coloured pieces in white ink, sticking them onto the plastic caricatures of trees. The tiny ones will come, tearing them off, throwing them into the black gunk of rivers.

Somewhere, blank walls will be painted in screams, as a minute one slithers out, a pretty, plush pink. Whining soft. Held in thin arms. Close, as the light peters out, savouring the gentle colour before it fades.

However, one girl, riding the evening train, will look up to the sky to find it cracked open. A sliver of blue shining bright, with the barest thread of light. She’ll stare with eyes of glass, before getting off the train. Out of the city, far, far away. To where the ground is barren, cracked and cratered for miles. And she will look for a single flower, with a colour unimaginable, because she is sure that she will find it.

Eltham Hill School

MIKHAIL RAZZAQ

Whitmore High School

In 2050, cities will be something that none of us could ever have envisioned. Despite our endless pondering and calculated, drawn out theories, we fail, time and time again, to comprehend just how much the human race and the world around us can change in just over a quarter of a century. We curb our desires and restrain our own thinking. Perhaps that is the problem with the cities of today, or perhaps this is for the best.

The cities of 2050 will be vast and immense, as populations grow beyond grasp, those with self imposed authority will compete to build the tallest towers. Yet this will only be for their own gain; the growing poverty-stricken lower class in society will not have the wherewithal for such home, for such a life. They will be forced to the cities’s depths, forgotten and overlooked by the very society that exploits and suppresses them. Not even the government can help free them from the shackles of the cities of the future, for as the years had gone by, those in power grew more corrupt: public services will be diminished to the extent that the life of the ailing poor will not even be worth living. Welfare and aid will be reduced, to those who are even applicable, due to a supposed lack of funds, the governments assistance will grow more and more frail. Yet despite all this, the rich will grow richer and the divide in society between rich and poor will grow even more inordinate.

As we grow nearer to the year 2050, the government will continue to fund and support unneeded conflict around the world, providing “support” and dealing in arms with all sides and factions, capitalising off the suffering of others. Yet this immense economic gain will only benefit the elite. For the poor, these seemingly necessary measures to ensure a seemingly unattainable peace is but an excuse as to why they are forgotten and left behind. An excuse as to why life within the cities in 2050 is unliveable. Yet the poor must watch as the rich fill their stomachs with the torment of others, unable to make a change, for their place in society is rigid and dictated.

In 2050, Artificial intelligence will play a much larger role in cities than any of us now can comprehend. Many believe that AI will be kept in check, that the government will place regulations on its use, and it will be beneficial to the society we wish to fashion and create. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. For in the cities of 2050, AI controls almost every aspect of life: nearly every commodity, every interaction, every occupation, trade and hobby will be tremendously influenced and controlled by AI. From creating movies and tv shows, writing books, designing homes, buildings, clothing, controlling every step of every manufacturing process and even helping ordinary people make ordinary day to day decisions. The effect of AI will be omnipresent and inescapable: This will hugely reduce the number of obtainable jobs, leaving many without a line of work at all. Combined with growing populations and the lack of government aid, many

impoverished people will turn to alternate forms of income. The cultivation and dealings of drugs and illegal substances will increase, as not only is this a source of income, but the huge and increasing amounts of hopeless, destitute people turning to such practices will cause an intense surge in demand for them. The only jobs shielded from the growing territory of AI are those in which human interaction is needed, leading many desperate people to reluctantly turn to distasteful forms of livelihood, such as selling their services to others. All of this will cause an astronomical proliferation in crime, making the lives of the vulnerable even less worth living.

In the cities of 2050, the morals of the people, both rich and poor have been defaced and torn down. The rich are unable to discern the suffering of the poor which they disregard and, in some case, induce, and the poor have experienced and seen such intense suffering, that they grow desensitised and numb. They relinquish their dreams and have no heed for themselves or those around them. The affluent upper class live entirely different lives to the necessitous lower class, it is as if there is two cities for every city in 2050, one in which the rich reside and take pleasure in the fruits of the technological advancements of the time, and one in which the poor reside, forever compelled to a life of misery and anguish, suffering due to the supposed “advancements”.

There may be one physical version of cities in 2050, but within them lie two conflicting depictions of what these cities truly are.

Whitmore High School

Erica Rodriguez

ERICA RODRIGUEZ

Whitmore High School

IN 2050S, CITIES WILL BE EMPIRES.

Cities are seen as the hearts of human cultivation, the oasis of technology, a manufactured wilderness made to facilitate only the best minds and visionaries. Suburban areas are painted in green form thriving forests and biodiversity, seas thriving in marine life and desert fringes- cut- the grounds restored to its natural equilibrium.

Hard work is rewarded and life of tyranny and pain is terminated, technological advancement has led to maximising efficiency and allowing those able to reap the highest quality to enhance one’s life. Pain is mitigated and conflicts are bygones, peace is achieved.

All is constant.

All is balanced.

Nothing less than perfection.

The final stage is complete.

HOW DID WE DO IT?

Well, by the 2030s, an agreement was made and signed by the every world leadercalling it “the age of change” after an asteroid the size of Pluto plummeted straight towards our very moon. In turn, it would have collided with us; only by the grace of the gods, one of the moons from Mars was disrupted and shifted its axis of rotation around it planet and in turn shifted the asteroids direction just merely missing the earth.

We were not prepared. This was the harsh truth, we are impermanent. There is no tomorrow.

A central world government was implemented and the idea of interconnected nations and transformative governance was branded so deeply into each and everyone’s consciousness, no one was to miss the Epoch of flux- this was all or nothing, desperation is at the tip of everyone’s tongues, this was the last warning.

THIS IS OUR LAST WARNING.

The adamant pursuit to reach their goal was so palpable that it transforms the idea of indoctrination is nothing but a child’s blabber. Top diplomats programmed and mutated each and every information source- databases, government publications, media reports, main social media platforms in every single corner of the world to relay their message, to manipulate the system, to finally bring about decisive change.

THIS WAS THE INITIATION STAGE.

If change was needed, and change was needed.With climate change and environmental degradation, the austerity levels and IMD levels skyrocketing in every nation, terrorism and war ruling the economy, corruption and lack of accountability form sovereigns, dredging of mental health, intense social injustice and political corruption and pure detachment form any social community and no sense of urgency for reformation.

CHANGE WAS NEEDED, YET NO ONE WAS WILLING TO CHANGE.

If all the straws were drawn and still the fire has not been kindled- the last straw must be drawn through blood and sweat.

Justice is blind. Success comes from sacrifices- this will be the ultimate sacrifice. For the ability to live for today, we must sacrifice a bit of tomorrow.

730 days. Everyone was given 730 days to meet the criteria for residence or mass disciplinary action will take place. The screening test, that will evaluate all 9.45 billion individual to see if they are able to see the era of change. They called it The “Vitality Assessment Protocol”. A personality test, to evaluate if you are worthy of being part of the era of change. A regressive model that relies on mother nature’s own mercilessnessan assessment built around the ideology of “survival of the fittest”.

Testing ones dependence level, intelligence level, emotional intelligence, mental state level, physical state level, socioeconomic level, trauma level, will, love, selfishness, leadership, adaptability, creativity, innovation, cooperation, rationality, problem solving, compassion, humility, morality…

This was the test of life, authorising acts of god- assessing individuals solely based on their inherent worth.

This score stands as the price you pay for administration into the new era.

Change was needed, justice is blind, this will be the ultimate sacrifice.

The years trailing after this was brutal- scars were etched onto the earth, deeper than any war or mistreatment could ever create. A purge. A purification.

Mother nature wept.

2049.

The year before the “age of the new era”. The ending sequence. After such avid and relentless pursuit, one must admire the resilience and dedication to the objective. The world leaders are finally truly acting as the peoples civil servants. The brutal irony of steering chaos into order, of reaching the final stage.

While the alteration stages and criteria served its purpose in the most remarkable way, changing the once afflicted world to that of balance and prosperity, it makes you

question… is justice truly blind? It makes you wish it was because then the chance to repent and run is vacant. The very attempt of humanity to salvage its own demise, to save itself, is the very same bow that points the arrow straight to that direction of destruction. In 2050, cities will be quiet. Perfection, yet all is nothing but an echo of the past.

JIA SAHORTA

Woodford County High School for Girls

In 2050, cities will represent a balance between population growth and technological advancement. Reflecting on historical patterns, it is clear that urban cities have always been magnets for human activity. This has led to immense progress but also created significant challenges.

With the UK’s population projected to reach 75.4 million in 2050, there will be a huge strain on urban landscapes. They will become denser, more complex, and yet, paradoxically, more capable of fostering human connection and sustainability than ever before.

Cities have long been epicentres of human development and innovation. Yet this progress often comes at a cost. Environmental degradation, overcrowding, and the stark contrast between the haves and the haves-not will only grow. The Industrial revolution, for example, brought about unprecedented urban growth. It transformed cities but led to cramped living conditions and significant pollution.

Fast forward to 2050, and the challenges of urban living have magnified. Compounded by climate change and resource scarcity. Yet unlike industrialists of the past, we have at our disposal an arsenal of technology and historical insight. Artificial Intelligence will aid with managing urban complexity, optimising everything from traffic flow to energy consumption. This will make cities more liveable for the dense population.

The introduction of autonomous vehicles and AI managed public transportation systems will revolutionise urban mobility, reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Imagine streets where vehicles have the ability to communicate with each other and city infrastructure optimises traffic flow. Not only will commutes be faster, but air will be cleaner. Everyone will be able to navigate the city with ease.

An illustrative example of the shift towards more sustainable and community-focused urban planning is the transformation of parking spaces into green areas. Currently, in the United States, there are an estimated eight parking spaces for every car, collectively occupying an area as large as West Virginia. This space can be repurposed as green spaces, and areas for pedestrians to roam. The conversion of parking lots is something I foresee in many cities in 2050, enhancing urban life.

Urban housing, too, will undergo transformation. Driven by the necessity to maximise space, we will see the rise in innovative architectural designs. For example, multi-use buildings blending commercial and green spaces. These structures will shelter us while supporting the community and environmental sustainability. Advanced materials can also help to adapt to inhabitants needs, such as maximising natural light and air quality.

However, the future of cities does not lie solely in the hands of technology. Human need for connection and belonging remain prevalent. With this in mind, cities of 2050 will foster spaces where community can flourish. Public squares, parks, and communal work

places will be integral to city life, enabled by technology but driven by the timelessness of human connection.

While the integration of technology and innovative urban planning promises to revolutionise cities, there remains concerns about the potential pitfalls that accompany such rapid evolution.

As cities become increasing reliant on artificial intelligence to maintain the city, new vulnerabilities emerge. Systems may fall victim to failures and cyber-attacks which could potentially paralyse a city. Furthermore, the digital divide could deepen. The elderly and economically disadvantaged may feel alienated in their own cities, unable to access the services designed to improve urban life.

Despite advancements in green infrastructure, the growing population is likely to exacerbate environment degradation. The extraction of raw materials will leave resources depleted, posing a challenge to future cities. And what about electronic waste? If not properly managed, this new form of pollution could undermine efforts to create a cleaner urban environment.

Despite these challenges, the essence of city life will endure. The vibrant hum of activity and the architectural marvels that define its skyline will persist. Yet urban existence will have evolved. Streets once chocked with pollution and noise, will breathe with the life of greenery and electric vehicles. Urban landscapes will be characterised not just by their physical structures but by their commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and connectivity. They will be places where the lessons of the past inform the innovations of the future. As we reimagine our cities, we’re not just building structures but crafting the stage for future generations to live, work, and dream. The cities of 2050 will look quite similar to today’s cities in many ways, yet they will be nowhere near the same. They will include diverse cultures and the green of sustainable living. This vision of the future invites us to ponder what else we can achieve when we apply our creativity and collaborative spirit to the challenges ahead. And in turn, the legacy we will leave for the generations that inhabit these cities.

Woodford County High School for Girls

Woodford County High School for Girls, formerly Woodford County High School is a secondary all-girls selective grammar school in Woodford Green of the London Borough of Redbridge, England. The school was opened in 1919.

ELLA SHARPE

St Albans Girls School

Acity in 2050 will no longer be called as such, for how can a word so small encompass such splendour? Four meagre letters will certainly cease to depict the glory of these glorious gatherings of sky-scraping structures. The urban architecture of the future will be so clever and complex, so carefully constructed that each building can curve and crane towards the heavens in swooping, soaring arcs. Sometimes shaped like great glass snow globes or tall terrariums, sometimes resembling the rippling of a flag in their form, they tower over trees, who remain rooted at the belly of the city, for their branches could not stretch so boundlessly. Instead, seated, the honest oak and serene pine sway softly in the breeze as they speak to each other in hushes tones, and act as homes for the hardworking rook’s nest and the school-children’s colourful outdoor swing set. The streets hum with life and human ingenuity, a stirring buzz carrying through the air along the clusters of charming market stalls selling slow fashion and fast food, and the scents and the spices beckon saliva to open-mouthed jaws. Flavours of all kinds can be found and felt, even the nostalgic perfumed taste of something sweet and sugary I ate as a sticky-fingered kid and have been chasing since, somewhat akin to grapes. I will be forty then. I look forward to it.

St Albans Girls School

SASKIA STONE

The Charter School North Dulwich

My name is Saskia Stone. Today’s date is the 22nd of March 2050. My teacher asked us to write about what life is like these days. It’s 800 words minimum, which is so annoying, considering I doubt anything has really changed since the early 2000s, so there’s not really that much to add. The only other rule is to not ask Lucinda to do it for you.

Lucinda is our online Friend. Allegedly, she came around about 2031, from her mom Alexa. We don’t really talk about Alexa. Lucinda’s got all sorts of revolutionary features though, down to being a self programmed search engine. She can also predict lots of things, like crime hotspots, weather patterns, or when I’m going to snack before dinner and will tell my mum. Bit irritating. I’m also somewhat irritated at our teacher too, as I think it’s quite hypocritical of Miss to ban Lucinda for this assignment. She uses Lucinda in our grammar lessons all the time to ask what words mean. That, or her phone. Apparently, there was a time where kids weren’t allowed phones in schools. That sounds ridiculously awful, so to be honest I doubt it’s even true. I wouldn’t know though, since the Great Flood of ’42 washed all the records away in London. There was a huge power outbreak, and even Lucinda couldn’t recite the meanings of superlatives for a while. But, that’s all fine, since heatwaves are more of a worry than floods now, so ’42 won’t be happening again for a while.

School was off for a good six months though, which was totally awesome for me and Toby. Oh yeah, Toby’s our flatmate. He’s sixteen like me, but his whole family lives with us. Doubleshare policy. Since the population has reached 12 billion, we all have to share our living spaces with at least one other family now. I guess that’s probably new. Toby’s great though, he makes delicious tacos and video games with me all the time. He’s got two grannies, Lu and Cindy, and they mostly spend time in the Room with his mum. Their Room is technically just our old sitting room, but under Doubleshare we converted it into their abode. His dad isn’t around much either; I think he works in the A&I block. So the flat is usually quiet and peaceful. His work’s formally called Angel and Islington, but most people just call it A&I these days. I’m not quite sure what they do, but I know they’ve managed to install Lucinda into most people’s houses in case of weather alarms. So, in that case, the house isn’t always peaceful. Lucinda’s chirrups are always there, but we’ve learnt to get used to it.

Apart from the Great Flood of ’42, there was only one real crisis where Lucinda signalled the weather alarm. I remember it so well from the shrill wailing the system made. Maybe that’s why Toby’s dad was always so quiet, was trying to revel in the silences away from that awful sound. We live all the way up on the 122nd floor, so when the heat wave rolled in we were pretty late to receiving supplies. That must’ve been in 2046 now, soon after Toby and his family moved in. All of us had to trot in pairs, at

3am, to gather around Lucinda in the kitchen and register for supplies. It was pretty funny seeing everyone in their pyjamas, or Toby without his glasses for the first time. It was the first time I’ve ever seen my mum looking worried though. I hope it doesn’t happen again.

Across the city the heatwave of 46 and flood of 42 are engraved in our minds and history. They even added it to our GCSE curriculum. Right now, they’re doing research into something called corona that they’ve managed to find records of from before the Flood. I think the history GCSE curriculum will turn out pretty interesting. They have no doubt one day they’ll pick up all the pieces of the past too, just like I have no doubt the city will keep adapting and beating on against everything in the world. We’ve all been pushed together as humans- there’s so many of us now. But I think we all become one living in our cities together.

So, I guess if you had to ask me what’s new in 2050 in cities, I don’t really have anything to compare it to. But, my family is still my family, even Lucinda and our dog Pip belong. And beyond my family, everyone has their family, in this city and in other cities. Heatwaves and climate change won’t ever stop that. Plus, Toby makes really awesome Tacos. So yeah, not much has really changed I don’t think.

The Charter School North Dulwich

ZAIN SYED

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford

“ In 2050, cities will run seamlessly. Skyscrapers adorned with lush gardens will dot the skyline, while AI optimizes traffic, energy, and waste management. Yet, climate change will challenge this harmony. Coastal cities will adopt floating neighbourhoods, while inland cities fortify against extreme weather with resilient infrastructure and green spaces. Town planning will adapt to shifting demographics, embracing mixed-use developments and flexible zoning.”

This vision of our future above was written by AI itself, showing its immensely capable yet perhaps diffident nature. Generating a description within seconds, whilst crafting it with the fluency of an academic, it is hardly believable that “optimising traffic, energy and waste management” is all that AI has in its future, especially considering that we are only in 2024.

As of right now, according to IBM, 42% of enterprise-scale companies surveyed report having actively deployed AI in their business, and while its function as of now may only be to assist an employee with their sneaky “ChatGPT” data reports to send to their managers, or to write an email to a colleague, it is without a doubt that in the next 25 years we will see drastic growth in terms of both its function as well as level of usage. AI is still an emerging and developing technology, so its main barrier is a lack of familiarity (more than 58% of those companies have criticised its data complexity as well as lack of skill) however this is a problem that will naturally dissipate over time as our world becomes more accustomed to the concept.

Once fully integrated, AI will play a pivotal role in the function of our society, completely revolutionising sectors such as Finance, Health care, Education as we know it.

The global financial industry will be ushering in an era of unparalleled efficiency and innovation. AI-powered algorithms will analyse vast streams of financial data with lightning speed, redefining investment strategies and risk management. Smart contract will automate transactions with unparalleled precision, ensuring seamless and secure transactions across global markets. In this dynamic landscape, AI will be the forefront of a more accessible, inclusive, and resilient financial ecosystem.

AI-powered diagnostics can provide access to reliable healthcare to those who in today’s world may only dream of it. In India- the most populated country in the world as of 2024- more than 30% of citizens (which accounts to around 400 million people) have no access to health care, largely due to a lack of infrastructure development and doctors available. Widely adopting AI into the healthcare system means diseases and problems would be able to be diagnosed swiftly and with unprecedented accuracy, enabling early intervention and personalized treatment plans.

Whilst the implementation of AI into developing countries would be of greater priority, developments in the healthcare systems in High-income countries such as UK would also be highly significant, especially considering the immense pressure on the NHS today. Virtual healthcare assistants, powered by natural language processing and emotional intelligence, would provide empathetic support and guidance to patients to create a high-quality healthcare experience, all whilst relieving pressure off the NHS.

By 2050, the global demand for manual labour, ie. Contruction and manufacturing, will fall significantly- a structural unemployment caused by the result of an age of technology. Education systems will be focused on creating a future labour force that cannot be displaced by artificial intelligence, one that requires creativity; or an emotional connection; or even human judgement. Both schooling and work will not be as we know today, with AI taking the reins of countless of today’s jobs.

In 2050, cities may not run seamlessly. Skyscrapers sheathed with lush gardens will pierce the skyline like a fence of barbed wire, while AI takes over jobs, education, and society as we know it. Not only that, but climate change will challenge this world. Coastal cities will adopt floating neighbourhoods, while inland cities fortify against extreme weather with resilient infrastructure. Town planning will adapt to shifting demographics, embracing mixed-use developments and flexible zoning.”

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford

London Academy of Excellence is the academic sixth form for independent thinkers. We are committed to our sixth formers developing the knowledge, skills and interests that will give them broad and rich life choices in a complex and changing future.

ALI TANZIL

London Academy of Excellence, Stratford

TWO FUTURE CITIES

In 2050, cities will be centres of growth and advanced human civilisation. It will be a landscape moulded by the influence of artificial intelligence (AI), regional climate change, and migrational activity. When we look at the future, imagining the neo-urban architecture that awaits us, I think cities will go through great structural transformation, driven by exponential technological advancement, a clearer environmental understanding, and evolving societal needs. These forces will redefine the form and function of public spaces and reshape the very routine of urban life, as it combats unprecedented and underestimated challenges but also many opportunities for innovation and societal growth.

AI stands to revolutionise urban life, from transport and architecture to governance and public services. AI-powered systems can further optimise traffic flow, reduce road congestion, and enhance public safety with predictive algorithms and real-time monitoring. For example, street traffic lights equipped with AI can adapt in real-time to traffic patterns or can even be utilised for emergency public services such as ambulances and fire trucks. This would minimise delays and improve overall efficiency. Similarly, energy management systems using AI can better allocate resources, reduce overall energy consumption, and reduce the environmental impact of energy production through more sustainable means.

I think there will be two distinct ways in which cities will look in the future.

The first are futuristic technologically advanced cites with the greatest level of efficiency, public transportation and a much denser population which prompts a need for smaller housing. This will be evident through many future projects like the ongoing Line project in Saudi Arabia, in which planners will attempt to use previously undeveloped areas such as deserts in hopes of increasing housing space. These spaces will face significant challenges such as pollution, air quality, and overpopulation. The second are eco-cities. These will be cities which focus on environmental quality over technological advancement and prioritise ecologically advancement. These will be cities which incorporate greenery in its architecture and focuses on green energy and sustainable forms of transport. This will be significantly better in terms of air quality, pollution, and quality of life. This can be seen in the ongoing environmental initiatives in Copenhagen, Denmark. But these cities will be significantly falling behind in competitiveness with cities which prioritise production and economic growth.

In terms of architecture, AI designing tools are empowering architects and city planners to create more sustainable and environmentally resilient built environments. By harnessing generative design techniques, cities can optimise usage of space and utilise natural light.

While AI holds the potential to enhance the liveability and sustainability of cities, its widespread integration also raises many concerns about privacy and individual autonomy. As such systems become increasingly integrated into infrastructure, important questions arise about data collection, government or international surveillance, and algorithmic biases based on protected characteristics. There is a risk that AI solutions may exacerbate some already existing inequalities, as marginalised communities may lack access to this technology. So, as cities embrace AI, it is important to ensure that this is used ethically, transparently, and positively, with the core focus on empowering communities while still safeguarding our individual rights.

Climate change poses a significant threat to the future of cities, increasing the urgency for adaptive urban planning. Rising sea levels, natural hazards, extreme weather and shifting climate patterns will cause great challenges to infrastructure, housing, and public health development. In response, cities must innovate to prioritise climate resistant architecture, green infrastructure, flood resistance, and disaster measures to mitigate the impact of climate related hazards in vulnerable areas.

However, to address the complex challenges of climate change, we require collective action and long-term planning at a regional and global level. This requires cooperation between governments and businesses to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to combat issues not yet known. Ensuring public awareness and political engagement is crucial to build resilience and ensure community support for sustainable urban development initiatives.

Population growth and migration patterns will put further pressure on urban infrastructure and resources, this highlights the importance of sustainable planning and resource management. By prioritising compact and adaptive development, cities can minimise urban sprawl, reduce commuting distances, and sustain social connectivity. Investing in affordable housing, healthcare, and education will be essential to promote social justice and equitable access to opportunities for all.

In summary, the changes in AI, climate change, and population change will profoundly influence the future of cities, shaping their social fabric and environmental footprint. By creating innovative technological solutions, adopting sustainable practices, and fostering inclusive and resilient communities will be essential to navigate the many regional and global challenges in the mid 21st century. As demand pushes towards more liveable, equitable, and sustainable cities, the future will require adaptative urban planning to create a liveable and better future for the next generation.

2023/24 MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY OF REAL ASSETS

Abercorn Consulting Limited

2023/24 MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY OF REAL ASSETS

Oliver Shah Limited

2023/24 MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY OF REAL ASSETS

HAMZAH AHMED

Hamzah is an Associate at ARA Venn where he focusses on investment into the UK housing sector.

Successful cities of the future will need to provide equitable housing opportunities for all. We are reminded today of the urgent need for new development and the desire for rapid solutions to London’s housing crisis. There is undoubtedly a housing shortage in the city, with a quarter of residents left in poverty after paying housing costs and 1 in every 50 Londoners living in temporary accommodation. To build an equitable future for all Londoners in 2050, housing must be more readily accessible and affordable across the city. We need only peer over the City of London’s old Roman walls, to appreciate the manifold benefits of bold, residential-led development in the Square Mile.

London Wall, the ancient fortification erected nearly 2 millennia ago by the Romans, was built to protect the then growing town of Londinium. Over successive centuries, the wall was battered by Saxon pirates, repaired by the Normans and destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666. Invariably, it has been demolished and extended by successive generations, and it was during the sheer destruction of the Blitz in 1940 that substantial sections of the wall were uncovered at Cripplegate and Noble Street. For the vast majority of its life, the area bounded by the City walls was predominantly a residential enclave whose population peaked in the mid-19th century at over 130,000 people. The City has since evolved into one of the world’s most productive commercial districts, and its resident base has dwindled. Following the pandemic, however, the City of London Corporation has sought to intensify residential development following reduced demand for office spaces in the heart of the City.

To swiftly redress the lack of housing supply within the Square Mile, the Corporation has approved plans to build 1,500 new homes by 2030, all within vacant office space overlooking the remains of London Wall. These homes will represent a substantial addition to the City’s 9,000 existing residents, over half of whom live within the neighbouring Barbican and Golden Lane estates. These two estates (the former built for affluent City professionals, the latter as council housing for key workers) constituted the last major residential-led development in the City. Remember that, following the Blitz, fewer than 500 residents lived in the City and these estates were a major contribution to London’s post-war rebuilding effort. Both estates have since been listed in recognition for the cultural amenities and the architectural value that they offer, in addition to the 5,500 homes they created for a population needing a renewed sense of community after the war. These were estates built with a clear civic purpose - such is the high standard of the City’s last major residential-led development effort.

Today’s housing shortage calls for a similarly strong and purposeful vision for the City’s future, not least because a staggering 34 million square feet of office space now

lies vacant. The Square Mile now grapples with changes in “post-pandemic economic and social trends” (as management consultants Oliver Wyman tell us), and we must ask how best to foster a sense of community for a new cohort of residents. The City of London Corporation has eased planning restrictions to convert offices into homes, but the dwellings must also be fit-for-purpose and built cohesively within their context. The posterity of the Barbican and Golden Lane estates has been determined not only by the provision of well-designed housing, but also the variety of public spaces, cultural venues and gardens that mediate the density of the residential blocks and create walking routes through the City. Longstanding educational institutions such as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the City of London School for Girls have been drawn to these estates too. When envisaging the City of the future, much-needed housing development,

with its attendant political and financial support, can be a pathway to attaining broader urban values, be they cultural, educational or environmental.

A central challenge for the City Corporation’s will be to deliver affordable housing within the Square Mile. At present, three quarters of the Corporation’s social housing sits outside the City walls on 11 estates that the Corporation owns and manages in other boroughs, including Southwark, Islington, Lewisham and Lambeth. The latest plan to deliver 1,500 new homes stipulates that at least 35% of these units (on private land) should be affordable, but the high existing-use value of commercial space within the Square Mile makes such development more viable on Corporation-owned land beyond the City walls. Consequently, most affordable homes in the Corporation’s current pipeline will be built in neighbouring boroughs ‘within reasonable travel distance of the city’, partially funded with the £60m worth of financial contributions now amassed from new commercial development within the Square Mile. While this cross-subsidy model is essential to financing the Corporation’s affordable housing pipeline, we must remember that mixed-tenure, amenity-rich neighbourhoods (of the kind exemplified by the City’s two great post-war estates) must be built to maintain the Square Mile’s longterm civic identity.

As a professional involved in the financing of new homes, it is clear to me that successful city-making requires robust and ambitious housing plans. The City continues to reap the rewards of its post-war residential development, which includes two large estates that weave between historic fragments of the London Wall and create a distinctive sense of community within a world-leading commercial district. These estates demonstrate that a diverse resident base, spanning neighbourhoods with a range of affordable and market-rate homes, forms the basis of a successful and cohesive City, and sustains the demand for sophisticated cultural and social institutions.

As planners, policymakers and developers consider routes forward for the Square Mile, they should remember that the City’s population has fallen by 90% since the mid-19th century. If London’s future calls for equitable housing options for all, then the Square Mile, with its Roman walls, dense post-war estates and its unique cultural identity, offers many lessons in how to build homes fit for the centuries ahead.

ANYA ALLEN

Anya Allen is a Business Support Apprentice at NewRiver, supporting both the property and finance sides of the business. Anya’s role also includes working on the ESG reporting and analysis.

Iwould like to think that our UK cities will be a green utopia using renewable energy to power train lines; and cars will all run on electricity. I want to be able to confidently call London a walkable city and see a displacement of traffic with people. Wouldn’t it be nice to walk to the office surrounded by trees and plants rather than exhaust fumes?

Realistically that will not be the case. Mass consumption is depleting our natural resources and large-scale corporations have not yet fully embraced the changes necessary to balance profit and planet as temperature creeps up. Government legislation around environmental policy to help companies deliver this is its infancy still. London’s air will become increasingly more polluted, and our wildlife will disappear. Incredibly morbid, I know! But this doesn’t have to be the case, attitude can change the future.

Environmental provisions that companies are putting into place are critical; yet can often be overlooked or slow to implement. Whilst many companies are striving to do that and making early inroads, accurate trackability of this is still blurry.

I am four months into my apprenticeship with NewRiver and I have hope that my vision for cities in the future can be achieved when I see the emphasis the business puts on environmental issues.

A goal that NewRiver has put in place is the commitment to align with scientific recommendations and achieve net-zero by 2050, as part of its ongoing ESG strategy. NewRiver’s detailed and realistic plan gives me confidence in their commitment and ambition. NewRiver engages with numerous industry-recognised indices to track performance, which is then externally disclosed, including being recognised by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark as a leader in sustainability management, being ranked 1st place in Europe out of over 1,000 participants.

With the increasing demand for electric vehicles, prices have been lowered to make them more attainable for average families. And with the demand for vehicles, comes the demand for charging points accessible across the UK. NewRiver is in partnership with one of the UK’s leading providers of electric vehicle charging points, InstaVolt, installing these across its retail portfolio which spans so many communities across the UK. All electricity supplied to InstaVolt comes from 100% renewable energy sources. It is crucial for companies to have environmental consciousnesses driving business decisions, such as this one, to ensure a greener future.

In 25 years I hope to see innovative projects taking place, creative people striving to make architecturally interesting buildings that are sustainable and affordable. Something as simple as using motion-detector lights in a block of flats can decrease energy consumption, and as a result, energy bills. Beginning with sustainable building,

rather than it being an afterthought, is the future of real estate and something I feel will have a huge impact on our cities.

An example of considering sustainability prior to construction is NewRiver’s Canvey Island Retail Park development, completed in 2019. The design ensured a pedestrian and cyclist friendly site, low-level external lighting systems installed to avoid nighttime light pollution and materials with low embodied carbon were sourced. NewRiver received a BREEAM Very Good Certification for their conscious decision to develop sustainably.

Protecting our planet for the future is a shared responsibility across all companies and people, and I am pleased to have begun my career with a company which has this commitment rooted in its strategy and ambitions for the future.

STEFAN DEKANY

Stefan graduated from Warwick University in 2019 and following a year travelling in Australia, eventually started his first job in Financial Services in 2021 working as part of the Investor Reporting and Relations Team, with a focus on Mount Street’s Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities portfolio. Elsewhere, he enjoys his passions of everything football and Arsenal related, piano and skiing.

In 2050, Cities will likely appear to be not too different to the landscape we’re currently familiar with, or certainly it will feel that way. Our city of London may seem to stand still in time, but it is only with the perspective of the passage of time that one realises the drastic redesign. Step out onto the streets of City of London’s EC2 to 4 districts and you’ll see a labyrinth of lanes and alleys with names tied to their heritage: Bread Street, Milk Street, Honey Lane, and Pudding Lane. Who would have imagined this historic core and bustling centre of trade and commerce would become a vital organ of the world’s financial capital? This also goes to show how the past can set the blueprint of any redevelopment for a city and set in stone certain characteristics. The bizarre twists and turns of London’s layout can be typified by the crazy maze of a tube network that astonishes and contrasts our US visitor’s cities. A quick glance at Google maps can show the uniform structured spiderweb grid that our transatlantic neighbours have erected their metropolis from; a far cry in design from the remnants of the Roman founded Londinium. Are the future changes in a city’s architecture intrinsically linked to the canvas on which they are built upon?

The primary perspective today however is one focused on our relationship with communities, sustainability, and resources. Given their monumental ecological footprint and impact on society, cities must operate within planetary boundaries, and it is ever more urgent that we do whatever it takes to transition our global economy to a fundamentally sustainable state. Something that London’s blend of historic and modern buildings share is concrete. While some sources report that taking in all stages of production, concrete is responsible for as much as 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions, there are also other concerns such as water availability for the production process. Another angle is the use of concrete leading to very similar buildings all around the world, regardless of the climate and context of their location. By doing so we are ignoring centuries of vernacular architecture that have created buildings suited to the unique specifications of each city around the globe. And, besides, when did we get so boring! I remember the first time I lay eyes on La Sagrada Familia and felt goosebumps; this coming from someone with no particular passion for architecture or design. So, the question becomes: will we see a return of fantastical architectural creation in our cities to the same level as our past or do we have to accept that this practice may very well be extinct? And could 2050 see the end of the so called ‘concrete jungle’? Hopefully they’ll still be a place where dreams are made of and big lights inspire you… (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).

In 2019, it would have been impossible to imagine what 2020 would end up looking like. And in the years since then, our lives have changed profoundly. Remote working has revolutionised the traditional office 9-5 job and provided an opportunity for a much less strenuous work-life balance and opened the door for companies to save costs by utilising hot desking and flexible workspaces. This has been reflected by higher vacancy rates in commercial properties where asset managers have struggled to re-lease at the same terms as pre-covid. Online retail continues to grow with the examples of Amazon, Gymshark and Uber Eats, to name a few across several retail sectors, giving an indication of how the retail horizon is shaping up; the in-store retail outlook looks set to diminish to some degree by 2050. Can we expect our cities to adapt to a more mixed-use composition in former commercially dominated areas to accommodate residential and leisure demand which will only continue in one direction?

TOM WILLCOCK

Tom Willcock, Chief Operating Officer at Hollis, focuses on daily business operations and leads on innovation.

IN 2050, CITIES WILL BE... THROUGH THE EYES OF LENA JORDAN, THE SURVEYOR.

Atypical day in my life starts with a morning coffee. My house robot monitors my sleep patterns and uses the information to hand me an espresso at the exact time I need it. While my robot is making breakfast, I put the finishing touches to a survey report on an office block in the United Arab Emirates. This is a new sustainable building powered by a combination of solar, wind and wave energy. It is completely off-grid.

Oh, did I forget to mention, I did the survey from my living room? No need to fly halfway across the planet, today the world is largely virtual. We wear contact lenses, glasses, goggles, and additional gear to imitate being somewhere else. It’s a different version of reality entirely, with other senses included. I was walking around that new office development, touching, feeling, hearing live audio and even smelling the building from my living room, in a different country on a different continent. Technology companies have mastered the ability to create a digital environment using computer-generated graphics, audio, and other sensory inputs to simulate a fully immersive experience, all at the speed of which the human brain perceives reality.

While surveyors no longer need to walk around and travel up and down to view a building, it is still encouraged by workplaces for our wellbeing. Incorporating human experiences is important, but it’s done differently now, with robots assisting you with notetaking and reporting as we use AI to detect any defects. AI also informs us of what the defects are likely to be and how to remedy them, before we even look at the building.

Once I’ve finished breakfast, I head into the Hollis office to catch up with my team. My virtual PA has been monitoring my diary to see what I’m doing now and has already called me an electric driverless taxi. On the way, I review some contracts that our Hagglebots have been working on for me. These AI-powered programs take the time and stress out of contract negotiations.

Machine friends and climate change

Robots. I think one prediction anyone from the past would suspect will be used in the future is robots. And yes, we do have those everywhere, in all different shapes and sizes. They help us in construction, inspections, maintenance and with amenities like laundry services. It means there is far less manual labour than in the past. For instance, I was working on a new project with a hotel and their entire staff was fully robotic, checking in guests on arrival, doing housekeeping, providing an itinerary for guests based on their digital footprint and making the food which of course, AI has already tailored to knowing if a guest had allergies.

I arrive in the office and a big deal has come through. A landlord has sent through petabytes of data on the buildings. I ask Hollie (our in-house AI engine) to sift through the data and give me a preliminary report.

Our planet’s population has grown, and humans are living much longer. That means our cities are bigger and green spaces have reduced. Buildings are higher and much lower below ground to make the most of limited space and we have more biodiversityfriendly architecture. We try to create green spaces vertically in buildings, while many surfaces are used to generate electricity through things like solar panel windows. We also use vertical farms in the urban environment, with produce harvested by robots.

Climate change has increased the earth’s temperature and made our weather more volatile. We use many different ways to manage the internal environment of a building. Some are simple, such as white paint to reflect heat, some are much more complicated, like the vast array of sensors that monitor and stream data constantly. This allows us to track people around buildings and create their own personal environment, which means we can use energy efficiently and not waste it on heating or cooling empty spaces. We spend a lot of time thinking about water. Sometimes we get heavy rainfall and at other times we are in drought. AI programmes have been developed to help us manage, store and move water around to where it is needed.

At the end of the day, I had a meeting with Chris O’Brien – one of our old surveyors who worked for us in the 20s. After showing him some of the work I was doing, he told me about what it was like back then: going out to site in a petrol-powered car, dictating notes onto a tablet, using a ladder on site, and how people used to have boilers powered by natural gas and oil inside their buildings. We’ve come a long way since then and it’s going to be exciting to see how the world continues to develop in the future. Could you imagine what kind of changes 2080 would have? Maybe I’ll have an office on the Moon or even Mars?

LUCY LENNARD

Lucy is a Chartered Senior Surveyor at Workman LLP in the Retail Property Management Team where she manages Retail and Commercial Assets on behalf of their clients. She is also a Youth Board member of the Academy of Real Assets.

In 2050, cities will be bustling hubs of innovation, sustainability, and diversity, redefining flexible working and educational approaches. As a property manager at Workman LLP, this essay explores ways property managers can play a part in adapting to the rapid pace of technological advancement, coupled with growing awareness of environmental challenges, which will transform urban landscapes into vibrant networks of opportunity and resilience.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLACEMAKING FOR COMMUNITY USE

Cities in 2050 will prioritise sustainability and resilience in their development strategies. Planners, architects and placemaking professionals will embrace principles of green design, community engagement, incorporating green spaces for community use into the fabric of the city. When managing commercial assets, the benefit of placemaking is vast. At Workman, Activate (our experienced team of placemaking professionals), use customer and stakeholder feedback to generate a common vision, creating places that enable innovation and enterprise, underpinning local economies and the wider community. In 2050, placemaking will play a pivotal role in shaping the built environment by fostering community engagement, putting buildings at the heart of their neighbourhoods.

THE IBOS OF BUILDING AUTOMATION

In the ever-evolving landscape of urbanisation, the necessity for Integrated Building Operation Systems (IBOS) emerges as a critical solution to the multifaceted challenges faced by cities in the 21st century. IBOS is a smart operating system for building automation that erases carbon emissions and reduces operational energy consumption. Workman has installed IBOS into over 5m sq. ft of space across their managed portfolio and has delivered £3.4m savings on clients’ energy bills in 2023. As cities grow denser and more complex, IBOS becomes indispensable in ensuring efficiency, sustainability and resilience in urban environments.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The concept of resilience will also extend beyond efficiencies and sustainability to encompass social-economic aspects affecting mental health and inequalities. As a commercial property manager, health and wellbeing is, and will continue to be, a vital component of the overall occupier experience. The modern workforce expects it to be an integral part of their workplace, and a duty of care for employers. Landlords will need to ensure they implement Wellbeing Asset Plans to identify health and wellbeing opportunities tailored to each asset and the specific needs of occupiers. Initiatives included within Workman’s Wellbeing Asset Plans vary from simple schemes such as running clubs,

workshops, and seminars to larger-scale initiatives such as installing gyms or specialist cycle storage facilities. Additionally, efforts will be required by local authorities to address socio-economic inequalities and foster inclusive growth. Affordable housing initiatives, job training programs, and social safety nets will ensure that all residents have access to opportunities and can participate fully in urban life.

FLEXIBLE WORKING

The concept of work will undergo a profound transformation in the cities of 2050, driven by advances in automation, artificial intelligence, and remote connectivity. Processes that were once manual and time-consuming will be achieved quickly and efficiently with digital tools, applications, and systems. While we are already seeing the rise of coworking companies and collaborative hubs such as IWG, WeWork, and Bizspace due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2050, traditional office spaces will give way to flexible work arrangements, with remote work becoming the norm for many professions. These collaborative hubs will cater to the needs of freelancers and entrepreneurs providing opportunities for networking and collaboration.

IN 2050, WHERE WILL THE ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN THE UK?

The planning environment has become overly political, preventing us as a society from providing the level of houses and commercial buildings that we need to cater for a growing and dynamic population and economy. According to the ONS, the UK population is expected to rise to 78 million by 2050. That is an increase of nearly 10 million people from the present-day UK population. While the Government estimates that 300,000 new homes are needed per year, by 2050 the UK will need an additional 7.5 million new homes. The Government will have no choice but to loosen planning restrictions.

INNOVATIVE EDUCATION APPROACHES

Education will also evolve in response to the changing needs of society, with a greater emphasis on lifelong learning and digital literacy. Schools and universities will embrace innovative educational approaches, leveraging technology to personalise learning experiences and foster critical thinking skills. Online platforms and virtual classrooms will enhance access to education, enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to acquire new knowledge and skills.

In conclusion, the cities of 2050 will be dynamic, resilient, and sustainable environments that harness the power of technology and community engagement to create thriving urban environments. As property managers, it is imperative to embrace these changes and play an active role in shaping the future of our cities for generations to come.

ELLIE MARFLEET

Ellie works within the Commercial Research team at Savills in Manchester with a specialism in retail analysis and consultancy. Her role includes utilising data to tell stories about current market trends within the retail sector and the wider property market in the UK.

It is the year 2050 and you arrive at your workplace via an autonomous shared mobility pod. You co-share the building with three other companies, a ground floor café, and basement exercise studio. In the lift, personalised music plays based on an AI assisted algorithm which intuitively selects songs to reflect your mood. Your company has downsized since over a third of their roles could be achieved by AI, so you share your office and collaborate with colleagues from companies with a like-minded ethos. At lunchtime, a cooked portion of spaghetti bolognese is delivered by Eve, the self-delivery robot. After work, you meet friends to attend a concert in an ex-department store. Half of the band attend in person, and live-stream holograms of the remaining band members are used - meaning your brother in New York can attend the same concert in real-time as you in London. Coincidentally, a woman who was in your shared mobility pod this morning is one of four others you share your ride home with…

Although on the surface, this anecdote may appear a far-fetched avenue of science fiction, there is a strong possibility that cities in 2050 exhibit at least some of these themes. The rise of shared autonomous transport, emphasis towards mixed-use buildings, finding futureproof solutions to our vacant retail space, and advancements in immersive leisure are already themes we are seeing today. Milton Keynes and Edinburgh for example both trialled self-driving buses in 2023, there are many examples of mixed use regenerations showcasing a blend of compatible uses, and ABBA Voyage pioneered digital concerts in the UK thereby blurring the boundaries between the digital and realworld arena. All these examples provide context to trends we anticipate will proliferate further, as we combat our environmental, social and urban agendas.

There is currently around 150 million square feet of vacant retail space, and 100 million square feet of vacant office space in the UK. These figures are likely to escalate further given the general over-supply of retail and office provision, coupled with lifestyle changes related to home-working and suburbanism. These changes are already causing us to question what the characteristics of a good city should be. With the historical notion that cities are solely a shopping or work-based destination gradually dying, we must find new ways to breathe life into our cities. The leisure industry is a primary example of a sector which attracts an ongoing consumer draw into the city. Leisure providers typically seek larger units given the floorspace needed to accommodate growing subsectors, such as competitive socialising, padel and event space. Ex-department stores therefore offer an ideal space for such uses, with case studies including Gravity’s occupation of the exDebenhams in Wandsworth, and InflataNation’s acquisition of the ex-BHS in Telford.

Perhaps half the band won’t be virtually attending their own concert, but the building the event is hosted in is more likely to have been one of your regular destinations for a new pair of jeans years ago.

As we grapple with broader societal problems such as shared mobility and sustainable transport, it is feasible that additional urban space will be alleviated through the gradual break-up between humans and car dependency. In Manchester city centre, land devoted to car parking consumes around a fifth of the city, with most cars parked typically sitting idle for large periods of time. This gives insight into the volume of urban space which may be unlocked if transport systems are to diversify. An autonomous ride sharing system outlined in the initial scenario seems less bizarre in a world in which private car ownership is the exception not the norm, meaning millions of pounds of consumer capital is unlocked annually, and we repurpose ex-car parking land to urban green space, whilst reducing our carbon emissions. Today’s cities prioritise cars and commerce over community and climate, the city of tomorrow does not.

The crux of these themes is community. Communities play an integral role in creating vibrant and inclusive spaces that are reflective of the needs and desires of the city’s users. Humans are social creatures that have lived in settlements for thousands of years, the rise of e-commerce and the ability to work from home does not distract from this. We may see an increased focus on urban communities through an adaption to our planning system from a top-down approach to citizens co-creating their cities through placemaking. These communities will use the skills, knowledge, and creativity of the people to curate their own vision of a good city. In these cities, no one is left behind. Not the worker whose job was replaced by AI or the increasingly ageing population who have difficulty using stairway entrances. The metropoles of 2050 will be built for all user types in mind and curated by their inhabitants.

JESSE PUTZEL

Jesse is Director of ESG at PHP PLC, a REIT investing in healthcare assets across the UK and Ireland. His role spans across environmental and social sustainability, working with teams and stakeholders to transition towards net zero and create positive social impact. Jesse has worked in sustainability for over 20yrs, working across public and private sectors.

It is the 22nd of April, 2050 and I am 65 years old. Back in the 2020’s, we used to celebrate Earth Day around now. People in cities used to shut off their lights for an hour to show support for action against climate change. We don’t do that any more, because we don’t need to. It is no longer a case of campaigning to switch off lights or to drive or fly less. We finally woke up and together made the changes that were needed. And this change happened fastest in cities. Not the cities we were used to in 2024, often referred to as ‘concrete jungles’, but a new type of city. One which more resembles a collection of communities and spaces, which work together to enhance our environment and experience, without compromising the needs of people or the planet.

Over 65% of the worlds population lives in cities now. Had this type of growth happened in the wrong way, we would be in trouble.

We used to pin everything on 2050 as a crunch point, a key milestone in the race to kerb unstoppable climate change, biodiversity loss, huge societal unrest and untold impacts on people. This sometimes felt like it let people off the hook, as it seemed so far away. But it wasn’t. When we started to understand the changes we needed to make happen and that we needed to act much sooner, we set ourselves on a path. We haven’t solved all the problems everywhere, but we have made big strides. And I’m more positive than ever about the future.

What can I tell you about cities today in 2050? So much has changed. Here are a few of my favourite changes, which are closest to my heart.

Let’s start with buildings. Decarbonising our built environment was a key challenge of the 2020’s. Things were very start stop though. We had government commitments to net zero carbon buildings, which were put in place, removed and put in place again. All buildings needed to be decarbonised, but one of the biggest challenges was the existing housing stock. Following an unprecedented collaboration between the government and private sector, there was huge investment into a national retrofit program. It was complicated to set up, thousands of people needed to be trained to deliver it. But we now have a largely zero carbon building stock, with very few fossil fuelled buildings left. Those that are (relicts of a past age and landlords who were too shortsighted), are now earmarked for mandatory deconstruction, with any valuable materials being used elsewhere.

Which leads on nicely to the circular economy we have created. Some cities like Amsterdam were already net self sufficient some time ago but now many cities import

few or no materials, instead continuously repurposing and re-manufacturing products. Buildings have become materials banks rather than a drain on natural resources. There is very little waste, only material that can be used elsewhere.

We have started to break the cycle of mass food production which was responsible for vast areas of deforestation, degraded land and lost biodiversity. Our cities have become urban farms, with food produced locally to where people need it, whether that’s on building rooftops and façades or disused and repurposed tunnels.

These and other things have required a boom in upskilling but have made significant opportunities for employment. In fact, un-employment in our cities is almost a thing of the past.

Transport completely changed. Thinking back to my days in London in 2024, congestion seemed worse than ever. People were still holding on to the idea that owning a car was an essential right, regardless of the consequences. Car ownership in cities these days is less common. People live in a series of connected hubs, with a variety of modes of travel available to them. Residential streets are no longer filled with parked cars, instead we have parklets, common areas and shared transportation, like manual and electric bikes, shared electric vehicles, and autonomous micro-buses.

This new approach, which is centred around people and community, has led to a mass decline in loneliness and ill health and a general rise in happiness and wellbeing. This has been supported by a complete change in the way health services are delivered, with a much bigger focus on primary healthcare, enabled by investment into community health hubs, social prescribing and new technologies which are available locally to people.

When I think back to 2024, it amazes me to think how close we came to losing the future we now have and leaving the new generations of today, with nothing but problems. Thankfully, our politicians and our companies, made the right choices, stopped thinking short term and came together to make what we have today possible.

BLAKE THOMPSON

Blake has worked in financial services for nearly 25 years and has been with Mount Street for 2 years. He specialises in Relationship and Loan Management and has considerable experience in the both the Healthcare and Hotel sectors. Outside of work he has a love of History, East Anglia and whatever hobbies (especially Lego) are occupying his son and daughter.

As I look out of the window when in either our Norwich or London office and think about the cities in 2050, my first view is always of something movie like or space age, then reality bites. If I think 25 years back, the view is incredibly similar., The buildings remain very similar, roads, paths, offices and shops dominate the landscape as they did back at the start of the 2000’s. Its only when you start to really look and think, that the changes of the last 25 years strike you,. This period of time encompasses the growth of the internet and mobile phones, something back in the late 1990’s would have felt fanciful, however their acceleration into being key parts of our everyday life has not changed the city scape around me significantly. In the next 25 years, you have to imagine that AI and technology will change the micro details in a dramatic way.

Historic trends suggest what will not change in the future will be the physical structure of our cities, I will still look out of the window and see roads, shops, offices, churches etc. The heart and soul of what makes these cities will remain – London will very likely still have Big Ben, the House of Parliament and Nelsons column, its rich culture should last forever, this is what will continue to make it the city it is. Offices and retail offerings will continue to evolve in their structure, but will ultimately still be boxes with rooms, albeit what clads these units should be led by AI to be more sustainable, environmentally viable and aesthetically pleasing, though what this will look like in 2050 will be anyone’s guess. AI cannot overhaul human desire when it comes to the history and culture of what we want our cities to be.

What will change is the infrastructure, the transport and the amenities we use. AI is already starting to creep into our day to day life, mobile technology is here to stay., In twenty five years it is likely that both will be fully integrated into daily life, maybe into us as humans as well. The biggest effect of these will be on transport. Personal and public transport are currently both hugely inefficient, damaging to the climate creaking under population growth. It is likely that electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles will have been and gone and hopefully transport will be dominated by AI controlled sleek, better than carbon neutral autonomous vehicles that avoid jams and accidents.

Despite governments best efforts, the climate will change and the country will get warmer, the weather itself maybe more unpredictable. Historically we have always been concerned around water with fears such as acid rain effecting structures or intense flooding and how to prevent it. However, it should be viewed that a warmer climate

will lead to water potentially becoming the most important resource. Planners, Builders and the general population will work with the benefit of AI to track water, maintain and preserve it. In conserving this, hopefully it can be used to help maintain society, to help with temperature control and add to the vibrancy of the cities. Buildings will incorporate channelling, storage and preservation of this resource, whilst hopefully making it an aesthetic benefit!

The demographic of our population and how this will change in the future and be effected by AI and technology is clear to see. The traditional family unit is likely to continue and people will still either be attracted to city or country living, so we will still need schools, shops, work and leisure. The global population continues to grow and this trend is likely to continue., By definition cities will get busier and by expectation they should become smarter. AI will make an educated guess that the core central city population is likely to dominated by the younger generation who want to live, work and explore the cities of the world. Cities will need to continue to respond to their needs to remain attractive. High rise and density will continue to dominate accommodation., AI will make it easier to go higher and build better with, what exists in these spaces will continue to be removed and recycled. AI should understand that the world needs to change and move away from the concrete cramped tower blocks to vibrant, environmentally sound spaces that work for the occupiers. There is always a fear that the future could lead to a dystopian high rise Judge Dredd style future where crime, violence and the difference between have and have nots is stark., It must be hoped that AI helps us avoid all of this and pulls in the other direction.

In conclusion, cities will look very similar to what we see now, but hopefully AI will enhance our quality of life and the cities in which we live.

NIAMH WALDRON

Niahm is ESG Manager at Sigma. She is an education professional with over 30 years’ experience in management and leadership roles. She has high-level experience in policy-setting, review and development, with particular expertise in engaging with national reporting frameworks and regulatory bodies.

“IN 2050, CITIES WILL BE…” PLACES CREATED AND FORMED AS A RESULT OF OUR VISION AND AMBITIONS, REFLECTING OUR VALUES, DECISIONS AND ACTIONS TODAY!

Therefore, this is our challenge and responsibility, it is up to us, it will be our legacy. What do we want the cities of 2050 to say about us? Will they say we cared? Will they illustrate that we listened to the needs of people, collaborated and consulted, used innovation positively for the good of all, and we thought about those yet to come? Did we plan with people and communities at the heart, and the planet and its valuable resources as a key concern? In essence, the wellbeing of people and planet. Or will our legacy be less favourable? Will our choices be celebrated and commended, or scorned and condemned?

2050 is just 26 years from now, and I will be in my 80’s! If I am lucky enough to be healthy and around in 2050, I ask myself now will I be proud of, and content with, the part I played in the cities that exist in 2050. Will I feel safe, cared for, be able to access the amenities I need, in a community I feel a part of and involved in? Will I look out and see green spaces, strong biodiversity, trees providing shade and beauty, and habitats for wildlife? Will I see fewer cars and an efficient clean-powered public transport system? Will my city be protected from flooding, or from extreme heat? Will emissions be lower? So many questions, so many unknowns! And then I ask, what am I doing to ensure that 2050’s cities are as we would wish, places we need, places to which I positively and proactively contributed and supported.

As we strive to encourage positive actions and behaviours, as we set out plans for enhancing communities, building homes, supporting businesses, providing options for clean energy and transport, supporting nature and wildlife, and caring for all people, are we sure that we are doing enough and all that is needed? Are we being ambitious enough, being bold and assertive enough, challenging and questioning, or merely doing the minimum expected and required, getting the job done, ticking those boxes? Are we brave enough to really set the mark, set expectations above and beyond, thinking far enough ahead, and realising that we have the opportunity to make a real and lasting positive difference and impact, for future generations and the planet.

Sadly, right now, we see increasing homelessness, the need for foodbanks, a housing shortage, a generation worried about safety, concern for the global economy and the cost of living and climate crises! Both people and the planet are suffering. And I wonder…… what might such a continued journey’s legacy look like in 2050?

We must also consider the unknowns, what does the future hold, in terms of innovation and development, progress and challenge. How will the world look in 2050, how will we be living, and what inventions and skills will we have and need that have not yet been created? 26 years ago, in 1998, Google search engine was founded in a garage; Apple’s iMac was unveiled; Windows 98 simplified computing; the MP3 player meant we carried music in our pockets, and we could play Game Boy in colour! What of 26 years hence?

It is up to all of us now, today, to take steps to make sure that our 2050 cities and communities are safe, healthy, inviting and happy places to live, places where people are at the heart of all decision making, where we understand that with positive collaborative engagement from all members of society we can achieve spaces where everyone can flourish, grow, and live fulfilled lives. Space to be, to meet, to feel connected and involved. Space to play and space to thrive. Space for all generations and where all feel safe and part of a community. Where inclusivity and difference are celebrated. Where we can experience a range of activities: arts, music, sports, culture, nature, play - holistic health and wellbeing.

We need to give this serious consideration and if we had the benefit of a crystal ball what might we see! The future is truly in our hands – so in 2050, cities will be what we plan today! Are we ready to make sure they are amazing spaces for all?

I have been accused of seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses, the good in everyone, and to be honest for this I make no apologies! I do believe in people and believe putting people first will ensure our cities in 2050 will be positive places, created by people who care about, and value, other people and the places in which we live, work and play.

STEPHEN YORKE

Stephen founded The Academy in 2020/21 and is its CEO. He is also the founder and CEO of The Property Chronicle, a global magazine read by over 45,000 global curious investors every week.

“…AND THIS IS A TYPICAL SCENE FROM A PUB BACK IN THE 2000S”.

Gemma, curator of the Kensington Quiet Centre (the old “Hillgate Arms“), waved at six virtual figures sitting at a round table.

They were red of face, all shouting (when Gemma turned the volume on), mouths open, hands and arms up, pointing, waving.On the table were 3D bottles of wine and glasses full and half-full.

There was debris from old crisp packets and beside each figure sat an Apple smart I-phone blinking and flashing.

Every two minutes the human figures would pick up these antique-looking contraptions, frown and then tap/ punch them aggressively.

Gemma went on: “Incredible to think that it is only 25 years ago that our parents and grandparents’ parents used to travel miles and miles in a crowded train to a desk amongst lots of other desks and then spend 8 hours producing next to nothing of importance.

At the end of their “working day” to get rid of their anger and frustration our poor ancestors would rush to these pubs to drink different sorts of alcohol, even though they knew the damage it was doing to them and the lies it made them tell.”

Patrick, aged 15 with a glorious 15 years of full time school ahead of him, had heard his parents tell of these days and the horrors of those desperate years 2028-2030 when hundreds of thousands of, what Patrick thinks were called, “illustrators”, “statisticians”, “copy writers”, “accountants”, “lawyers”, “managers”, “journalists”, “bankers”, “analysts” were all made redundant as the AI revolution hit the developed world hard.

Patrick, who loved his ancient history of the 1960s-80s, reckoned it was the White-collar equivalent of the Miners’ and Steel Workers’ mass redundancies of that violent period.

His teachers had told him how, in 2028-30, whole areas of South East England suburbs and central London went into economic free fall as deflation gripped the western world.

Residential Asset values collapsed. Debts, mortgages could not be paid. Banks went bust.

It was the great “Farage” rebellion of 2029, where tens of thousands of those affected had rioted across the UK, as their houses were re-possessed , that had forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to create the AI Royal commission, in 2030, chaired by Lord Beckham.

The findings of that Commission had changed everything forever.

It had led to everyone over 30 being entitled to the “Peace of mind “(“POMP”) payment (what used to be called Universal basic income) and abolished all other benefits and the bureaucracies that oversaw them.

A 1000% vat charge was placed on alcohol, smart phones, tobacco, carbon fuels and access to any social media site.

All companies and those that did work paid a flat 20% on any income above the POMP, asset owners a 1% levy each year. There was no need for accountants.

The “POMP” meant no-one had to have a job to have a home, eat and live a decent life.

It ushered in the end of alcohol and the replacement of pubs with “Quietness Centres “where people could drop in at any time and hear lecturers, read digital books for free, sit and think and be quiet, or go to the “Club” bar and sit at a round table and enjoy good and free coffee (which led to all the paid-for coffee shops disappearing too.)

Patrick and his friends all laugh at the old photos of his parents using Smart phones, they look like the old footage of television interviewers smoking live on Tv in the 1950s-70s.

Many of the buildings that had once been offices were now “hot homes“where you could drop by and be able to get a room, a meal and a shower for free. Not owning a house had its plus points (freedom to move anywhere, no overwhelming financial pressure) but had probably also contributed to the massive decline in the birth rate.

Patrick was so pleased that he lived when he did and would never be slave to an unproductive and unfulfilling job but could look forward to a life of learning, reading, making friends, helping others.