Glasgow wins UK city of future competition

The City of Glasgow is set to receive £24 million from the government to show how the city of the future will work.

The money will be used on projects that will demonstrate how a city in the future might work. For instance, real time updates on travel, including apps for smart phones to check times for buses and trains. Another app will be created which can be used to report issues for the council, such as missing bin collections. This project could really escalate the city to a top destination for those looking to book UK holidays.

Other plans include linking up CCTV and traffic monitors to enable traffic incidents to be identified faster. In the city itself, analytical software and security cameras will be used to help spot criminals and prevent crime.

Glasgow beat competition from 30 other UK cities, however, it will not be the country’s only smart city. Other cities including Birmingham, Sunderland and London are beginning to use technologies to make services run more efficiently. 

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “This is a huge boost to Glasgow’s ambitions to build a better future for our city and its people.”

“By linking everything from foot and vehicle traffic, to council tax collection and hospital waiting lists, we can ensure we are being as innovative and smart to meet the continued challenges of a modern and future city life.”

The Future Cities demonstrator is set to act as a blueprint for other cities.

Eleanor Mackay