What's the future of British cities and do you want to shape it?

Perhaps as little as ten years ago, cities were seen as vital contributors to the global economy. That's no longer true. Today, cities are the global economy. More than 50% of the world's population live in cities and the 40 largest cities, or mega-regions, account for two thirds of the world's output.

In the UK, one of the most rapid areas of growth has been the knowledge economy, and this expansion has played out in our cities. With every new job in other industries being matched by 12 new jobs in knowledge-intensive industries between 1995 and 2005 (and perhaps at a similar rate since then in spite of the economic slump), the cities attracting these industries are the ones that have boomed. The expansion in British cities of knowledge-intensive industries, from financial services to hi-tech manufacturing, has reshaped the UK economy. Successful cities have attracted skilled workers, affluent consumers and thriving cultural centres but there is a growing disparity between "resurgent" cities and those that appear to be "stuck".

What is needed is a vision. A plan and the tools to implement that plan. What people consider as an urban environment, whether in theory or practice, is being redefined and is a turning point. Cities across the world, not just in the UK, are facing complex and rapidly evolving challenges. To create the vision we need to cope with these challenges requires ingenuity and versatility in policymaking, investment and people’s everyday lives. Programmes and initiatives like The Oxford Programme for the Future of Cities are seeking to re-think the city, in theory and practice, as a flexible and evolving space that better responds to contemporary urban challenges.

Right now politicians and commentators are tinkering around the edges. ‘Streamlining’ planning legislation, standardising school design and championing the refurbishment of homes is all well meaning – but lacks cohesion. The UK built environment, especially its cities, needs a strategic vision.

To find out more go to http://www.futureofcities.ox.ac.uk/home; why not sign up for the http://www.ubmfuturecities.com/ join the debate and consider how our cities need to evolve in the future.