The City of London wants to reinvent itself as a “fun district”, with plans for 24/7 activity, outdoor music and arts festivals.
Chris Hayward, the new policy chief at the local authority for London’s financial district, said the plans were part of a wider strategy to help it recover from the pandemic and recognition of opinion that the City would never “go back to the old normal”.
It would also focus on redefining office space, as Hayward pledged to continue to support new developments, including skyscrapers, despite signs of a permanent shift to hybrid working.
“In the City, if you can’t build out, you can only build up,” he told the Financial Times. “We don’t think there will be any lack of demand for high-quality office space, but that space will be used differently. There will be more collaborative working spaces, rather than rows and rows of tables.”
Hayward, who took over this month from Catherine McGuinness as the City’s most senior policymaking executive, said the shift by many companies to hybrid working had created challenges.
In an attempt to broaden its appeal outside the traditional weekday commuters, the strategy dubbed Destination City will develop retail areas, create a team of cultural envoys and open spaces for leisure use. The plans were outlined by Hayward to the City’s decision-making “common council” on Thursday.
The Corporation will spend £2.5m each year on events, including music, art and sports, but Hayward promised “spectacular events” would come as the City’s budget was boosted through sponsorships.
