According to Anna Minton, author of Big Capital: Who is London For at the University of East London, lockdown has had a permanent influence on the way we live in cities like London – and, in certain situations, the 15-minute city is now a reality.
She says: ‘With more people working from home, we’re more likely to interact and stay within our local areas for food, exercise, socialising and leisure. There is also a sense of loyalty and community, with people wanting to shop at their local high streets, interact with neighbours and support small businesses.
‘We’re currently in a cost of living crisis and travel can be expensive, so staying local has financial benefits too.
‘We’re also seeing people rely more on e-street delivery services, which allows them to shop locally without leaving their homes.’
Nevertheless, Anna points out that adopting this concept in more remote places will be the true problem.
She continues: ‘London has always been a city of villages and post-pandemic behaviours reinforce this. The 15-minute city will be more difficult to implement in depressed, low-economic towns where high streets have declined.
‘There are environmental benefits and we have already seen creations of low emission neighbourhoods in big cities.
‘But, there will not be a blanket approach, and this will be difficult to execute in larger sections of the UK, where walking or cycling to amenities in residential areas is not practicable.’
The word may be popular, but Kevin Horton, architect director at K2 Architects, reminds out that this concept isn’t new.
‘There are a number of cities and towns in the north of England that already have such infrastructure, notably Victorian mill towns,’ he explains. These working-class neighbourhoods were established around the mills, so parks, stores, and sports clubs were all within walking distance.
‘We have only really seen the advent of out-of-town retail centres and the trip to work in the last thirty years or so, with the rise in popular usage of the vehicle.’