Managing urban evolution: Plan a new city so it will endure

Even if it is comforting to imagine we live in exceptional times and face challenges never have imagined, that indulgence is generally untrue. The challenges faced generations ago were different but no less daunting than those we face today. It is easier, however, to argue we face an unprecedented pace of change. The world has changed utterly even in the 18 years since this millennium began. Coping with relentless, profound change has become normal.

One of the areas where change is obvious is on the high street. The migration of a growing proportion of retailing online — expected to reach 15% in Ireland in 2019 — is challenging shopping patterns and local businesses. Footfall is diminishing because keyboard shopping can be more attractive than visiting dirty, clogged cities. This forces cities and towns to change or become ghost towns. This transition is difficult, especially for smaller independent family businesses.