How would you design the city of the future?

Cities have to happen

They cannot be just planned

They need a bit of history

A patina of age

Yet buzz with life and energy

Embracing every change.

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So cities of the future should

first respect their past

but have the flexibility

to be right up to date.

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Within them there’d be ‘villages’

Reflecting different moods.

Twixt work and entertainment

You’d easily commute

Blessed with public transport

And tree lined pleasant routes.

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There’d be a retail centre

With space to leisure shop

A place where you could try things on

Support the online shop.

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Cinemas, Theatres

an entertainment zone

With galleries and studios

A real creative buzz.

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Replace old, derelict areas

With great, green urban parks

And plenty fresh green corridors

Where we can walk or bike.

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Modern, airy housing

We’d build on edge of town

With excellent insulation

Good facilities round.

Well planned public transport

An easy route to town.

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There’d be great places to mingle

With great big open squares

Ideally be a river and

Water running through.

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It’d be well kept and tidy

Awash with trees and flowers

And really excellent wi fi

To keep us all plugged in.

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There’d have to be employment

A chance for folk to work

So enterprise and commerce

And businesses diverse.

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So that’s my kind of city

The one I’d like to see

But frankly it won’t happen

If you leave it up to me!