UK cities lead the smart revolution

We’re already on our way to a digitally smarter way of living with a number of cities spearheading the smart living set-up.

These cities are incorporating a more connected and energy efficient approach to transport and urban management, using digital technology and intelligent design to create sustainable and energy efficient urban spaces.

Adopting smart technology can help to make services more seamless and efficient. For example, data collected from places like street lights and building sensors can be used to improve residential spaces, with the goal of improving quality of life and streamlining city operations.

1. BRISTOL

Bristol overtook London as the UK’s smartest city with fibre networks in the ground and a network that allows for 5G testing. Not satisfied with that, the city is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.

2. LONDON

Our biggest urban area is operating a five-challenge plan to stay smart with more user-designed spaces, a new deal for city data, world-class connectivity, digital leadership and skills enhancement, and city-wide collaboration.

3. MANCHESTER

The northern powerhouse has based its vision around six key themes: Live, Work, Play, Move, Learn and Organise. The project to develop these themes alongside tech and digital innovation ran for two years and has just been completed.

4. BIRMINGHAM

Smart city plans here date back to November 2012 and the projects plan to use data and tech to tackle unemployment, healthcare, mobility and environmental problems.

5. LEEDS

One of the priorities for this smart city is to install a Clean Air Zone for vehicles in January 2020.