Greenwich smart city strategy

Executive Summary
Background
Cities around the world are confronted with a range of challenges. These include demographic change
and the rising cost of healthcare, traffic congestion and high levels of emissions, the need to improve
employment prospects and the quality of work in the face of technical change and, following the financial
crisis, to deliver services with significantly reduced budgets and higher citizen expectations. Greenwich is no
different. For example:
-it is estimated that between 2010 and 2028, the Borough’s population will rise by 34%, with the number
of people over 65 rising 57%, from 26,000 to 41,000;
-cars account for 45% of journeys made in the Borough and congestion on the approach roads to the
Blackwall Tunnel leads to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the locale;
-the local economy is heavily reliant on relatively low skills and low paid service jobs which possibly reflects
the fact that the qualifications of 38% of Greenwich residents are no higher than NVQ 2 - the equivalent
of GCSEs – a group which is particularly vulnerable to the automation of simple, repetitive, service tasks;
and
-the Council, like others, has been forced to make considerable savings and is being required to find
further savings over the next three years which, together, will amount to a significant reduction in Council
expenditure per head.
An increasing number of cities are turning to “smarter” approaches in planning their future, in creating
a modern infrastructure and in delivering services. Greenwich has played an important role in shaping
thinking in how innovation can be harnessed to improve cities, particularly in the development of national
and international standards. The Council is committed to adopting such “smart city” approaches to cope
with the many challenges ahead and to create new opportunities for business and local communities.
This strategy sets out how the Council proposes to do that and underpins and complements the Council’s
existing strategies and vision.
What are the Foundations of a “Smart City”?
For some, it is simply investing in ultra-fast broadband and other digital technologies, or installing a
management control centre and a range of technology solutions to specific challenges. In truth, there is
no digital “silver bullet”: the complex nature of the urban environment and how it evolves over time in
response to technological, economic and social change requires a systemic approach, which draws on the
full range of policy instruments, but it is certainly underpinned by the use of technology and the ability to
collect, transmit, manage and interpret data, and make it available, to enable both service providers and
users to make better decisions. Smarter use of new technology also enables cities to be designed and
planned more effectively, to manage demand for services and encourage citizens to use lower cost modes
of delivery i.e. to promote “channel shift”. Thus, in our view, a “smart city” is one that:
- provides clear leadership and drive, while engaging with citizens and businesses in a transparent and
democratic manner;
- develops a vision and strategy for the city which is informed by leading international experience and,
where possible, builds on its past, its strong sense of community, a respect for its natural environment,
and optimizes the use of space/the built environment and resources in the face of demographic, industrial
and technology change;
- provides a modern, digital infrastructure and connectivity that is globally competitive;
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