How Will Covid 19 Affect the Economics of City Life?

Like it or not, the places we enjoy and even those we don’t are underpinned by economics. Levels of investment, the price of land and property, income generation and further quantifiable aspects of a city all impact on our lives – from where we visit to where we build our futures. However, as we see reports in the news of economies on the brink, high street closures and predictions of a new great recession, what will this mean for the people who use, enjoy or live in our urban spaces? In this Urbanism Lunch Hour we heard from two speakers on likely scenarios of economic city life taking into account the vast impact of Covid-19.

Speakers:

John Siraut, Director of Economics and Global Technology Lead – Transport Economics, Jacobs

John Siraut specialises in the wider economic and social impact of infrastructure, and policy and economic development issues generally. He is presently chair of the Transport Economics, Finance and Appraisal Committee of the European Transport Conference. During this pandemic he has spoken on a number of panels about the future of transport and cities post-Covid 19. He is presently working for HS2, East West Rail and Highways England Lower Thames Crossing

Katy Davis, Partner, Carter Jonas

Katy is a chartered planning and development surveyor with 18 years’ experience securing planning permission for major residential-led and mixed-use developments in London and the South East. A significant proportion of her work involves adding value to redundant urban sites through complex negotiations, transforming such sites into exciting new destinations. Her main areas of specialism include developing strategies for complex, phased developments, leading negotiations around affordable housing, Section 106 matters and CIL. Key clients include Barratt London, EcoWorld London, London Square, Essential Living and Brentford Football Club.