Vision for Cities

Vision for Cities is a global policy and research programme launched by RICS to examine key thinking on the delivery of the sustainable cities of 2030 and beyond. RICS published the first-stage discussion paper for its Vision for Cities work programme - RICS Vision for Cities: Planning and delivering urban infrastructure to achieve sustainable growth at MIPIM 2010 - an international real estate conference in Cannes, France.

RICS has a unique contribution to make to the sustainable evolution of cities across the globe. As an independent and chartered organisation regulating the professional standards of over 91,000 qualified members and over 50,000 trainee and student members throughout 146 countries and firmly operating within the public interest, RICS can draw on substantial shared knowledge and expertise in the property profession to help frame the principles which will promote the development of sustainable cities.

This programme will explore a number of issues which contribute towards urban sustainability, including:

• Infrastructure planning and delivery
• The value of Green Buildings
• Sustainable regeneration
• Governance and Policy making
• Building Technology
• Mechanisms for delivery

Vision for Cities is based on an understanding of the changing urban context in the twenty first century. Nine key drivers for global city growth and place shaping, as described on page six of the launch paper are:

1. Progressive urbanisation has already resulted in over half the world’s population now living in cities.
2. The technological and information revolution of the 1980s and 1990s has given major, mature and emerging cities a critical role as a concentration of the people, knowledge and talent required to support the development of the global economy.
3. The international dispersal of knowledge-intensive, business and professional services (e.g. finance, legal, accountancy) facilitated by ICT development and cheaper travel, has made such cities specialised service centres for offices of businesses which enable global production networks, supply chains and trade to operate.
4. The creative resources, capacity for innovation and economic dynamism of these cities also gives them an essential role in supporting the economies of their wider regions and countries.
5. The development of global office networks for international business services is generating significant physical, as well as virtual, mobility of people, labour, goods and commodities within and between cities.
6. The increasing complexity of high-value, specialised international business functions, requires continuing close proximity of skilled labour, suppliers, clients and competitors in densely clustered city locations.
7. Private sector investment in these clusters also provides essential investment into the city infrastructures needed to support resource flows.
8. Many cities are also extending outwards to form large functionally interconnected urban regions that stretch beyond the metropolitan boundaries of the city.
9. These very large city regions generate high volumes of cross-cutting commuting and business travel not currently supported by sufficient rail and sustainable transport infrastructures and investment. They present a major challenge for strategic planning across local and political boundaries.

Vision for Cities Research and Policy

• RICS Vision for Cities: Planning and delivering urban infrastructure to achieve sustainable growth (March, 2010) This discussion paper outlines the Vision for Cities policy programme. View Paper
• Successful Regeneration: Perspectives from England (July, 2010) This paper outlines the key factors which enable governments, communities and others to deliver more for less, as discussed at the RICS panel event, National Regeneration Summit, July 2010. View Paper
• The Future of UK Housebuilding (January, 2011) The report reviews the current landscape and identifies the key challenges facing the industry in delivering housing of quantity, quality, sustainability and affordability. View report
• Delivering Better Places in Scotland (January, 2011) A guide written in partnership with the Scottish Government aimed at providing better places in Scotland to live, visit and work. It is aimed at a variety of public, private and community stakeholders whose role it is to regenerate or design neighbourhoods. View guide
• RICS event at MIPIM 2011, ‘Dense cities, for better or for worse?’ (March, 2011) This took place in the context of dense urban development presenting benefits in energy efficiency, convenience, and a critical mass of population to drive dynamic and diverse economic, social and cultural activity, but also challenges such as pollution, congestion, overcrowding and demands on infrastructure. View article
• The future of private finance initiative and public private partnership (May, 2011) This report presents a timely and credible evidence base to enable RICS to inform and guide members and other key stakeholder groupings on the challenges and opportunities afforded by PPPs. View Report
• Vision for Cities global essay competition RICS has launched a global essay competition for student members. View competition page

If you wish to be involved in this ongoing programme, please contact:

Christopher Roche
RICS Corporate Affairs Officer
e policy@rics.org