City attractiveness as a new measure of urban success

As cities compete in an increasingly mobile talent economy, Professor José Antonio Ondiviela, director, Citizen-Centric Intelligent Cities Research Institute, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, explains why urban success factors must now consider how magnetism, liveability and affordability shape where people choose to live and work.

Building water-smart cities

Cat Moncrieff, policy manager, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, explains how housing planners can tackle the UK’s growing water crisis.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sydney

In 2020, the City of Sydney released a Smart City Strategic Framework to harness the opportunities brought about by digital disruption, to plan for uncertainty and to sustain a global reputation as a leading place to live, work, learn and visit.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Atlanta

Find out more about Atlanta’s smart city strategy, focused around equitability and inclusion.

Podcasts

Podcast: The central role of cities in the sharing economy, with Chelsea Rustrum

There’s a big opportunity for cities to better harness the sharing economy to achieve municipal goals and give power back to the people, Rustrum says.

Opinions

Why the UK needs a nationwide retrofit to tackle the energy crisis

Fiona Duggan, policy lead at climate solutions charity Ashden, explains why the UK has just two years to flood the grid with renewables and insulate millions of homes if it is to confront the climate and energy crisis.

Think Tank: Building Circular Cities

In the latest of our opinion pieces from members of our Advisory Board, we explore how we break away from the linear city model.

22-26 June 2026: Find out more

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

OnDemand Panel Discussion: Digital twins and AI as the intelligent operating layer for cities

Webinars

Join us for insights from real-world case studies on the use of digital twins and AI as the present and future of urban management.

Latest Podcast

How cities can own their data and their future with sovereign AI

Podcasts

Tune into the SmartCitiesWorld podcast to understand the world of sovereign AI for cities, featuring PNY Technologies’ Youssef Nadiri as our expert guest.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

Latest Special Report

Building AI-ready cities: from pilots to public trust

Special Reports

From data foundations and ethical guardrails to workforce skills and citizen trust, the challenge is no longer whether to use AI in cities – but how to embed it in ways that are practical, human-centred, and built to last.

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Solar-powered streetlights set to illuminate Austin community

Sacramento's sustainable mobility hub gets the green light

Smart city ranking focuses on citizens’ perceptions

Eco-neighbourhood aims to reshape urban living

Amsterdam adopts first ‘city doughnut’ model for circular economy

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Home | Urban Space | Residential buildings

Residential buildings

The latest news in residential buildings on smart city projects and initiatives across the world.

Solar-powered streetlights set to illuminate Austin community

Solar-powered streetlights set to illuminate Austin community

Solar power13 Feb 2026

Austin’s Novel community development will be home to 40 new solar-powered streetlights to provide residents with enhanced safety and power reliability.

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis

Planning and redevelopment22 Jan 2026

Europe must take advantage of brownfield development’s potential to address affordable housing needs and reduce carbon emissions, a new report reveals.

Vancouver approves zoning updates for Villages initiative

Vancouver approves zoning updates for Villages initiative

Planning and redevelopment20 Jan 2026

Villages form part of the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan and are centred on existing retail clusters that will transform into vibrant neighbourhoods.

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Boston to build first hotel under new Net Zero Carbon Zoning

Climate action19 Jan 2026

One of five projects to be approved under the initiative, the building will improve the public realm with landscaping, street trees and pedestrian connections.

Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment

Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment

Planning and redevelopment16 Jan 2026

Estonian capital’s 2026 budget and master plan aims to create a high-quality living environment with everyday services conveniently accessible to residents.

Westminster City Council launches ‘retrofit-first’ policy

Westminster City Council launches ‘retrofit-first’ policy

Climate action12 Jan 2026

It requires developers to explore all reasonable options for retrofitting and adapting buildings before seeking permission for demolition and redevelopment.

Innovation incubator announces scalable tech cohort

Innovation incubator announces scalable tech cohort

News11 Dec 2025

Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator is a $55m energy tech programme and the cohort represents those from housing, utilities, infrastructure, and real estate.

UK launches marketplace for biodiversity net gain units

UK launches marketplace for biodiversity net gain units

Climate action03 Dec 2025

Greenshank Environmental’s platform enables developers to browse credits, view pricing and unit types, and purchase verified BNG and nutrient credits online.

Detroit breaks ground on solar neighbourhoods

Detroit breaks ground on solar neighbourhoods

Solar power19 Nov 2025

Ten neighbourhoods vied for the opportunity to transform blighted vacant land into landscaped solar arrays with the first to be activated in mid-2026.

Boston awards climate-ready housing grants

Boston awards climate-ready housing grants

Climate action11 Nov 2025

Seven Boston affordable housing developments will receive funding to advance retrofits and electrification as part of Climate Ready Housing grant programme.

Most Popular

Municipalities invited to apply for fully funded pilots

Pilot projects in the latest Leading Cities’ AcceliGOV programme enable cities to launch proven climate and infrastructure solutions in approximately 90 days.

New standard speeds up local energy planning in UK

The standardised Local Authority Common Ask builds on previous cross-sector collaboration and enables local authorities to share granular spatial forecasts.

Digital Dubai launches senior citizens track

Digital Dubai and the Community Development Authority are enhancing digital quality of life for seniors as part of the Digital Balance Initiative for Families.

Chattanooga secures grant for quantum workforce development

The new EPB programme is designed to build a local quantum-ready workforce and support new, local job creation from the rapidly emerging quantum industry.

Texas DoT extends partnership for next-gen traffic insights

Building on a 15-year collaboration, this new contract will aim to help make travel across Texas safer, smarter, and more efficient for all road users.

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Guest Opinions

Why the UK needs a nationwide retrofit to tackle the energy crisis

Fiona Duggan, policy lead at climate solutions charity Ashden, explains why the UK has just two years to flood the grid ...

Why World Metropolitan Day is a time to rethink the future of the city

World Metropolitan Day is more than "just another international day", writes Oscar Chamat, Research and Policy Officer ...

Resilient cities are being redefined by the coronavirus

Covid-19 is showing us what resilience in cities actually is, writes Stephen Zoegall, director of global cities and ...

Could FWA be the answer to keeping people connected during the global pandemic?

Fixed Wireless Access’s speed and flexibility could have it serve a crucial role in helping businesses and public ...

The 14 pillars of a smart city

Strategies must take a holistic approach encompassing people, institutions, structures and operations, say Clint Vince, ...

Less is more: Why smart technology is thriving in the suburbs

Fast-growing neighbourhoods are the perfect testing ground for the latest connected technologies. Toby Olshanetsky, co-...

Digital humanism: Quality of life, environment and connected services at the centre of future cities

Cristiano Radaelli, Planet Smart City, looks at the role of sustainable, tech-enabled housing in future cities.

The technology that is making housing more affordable

Modular construction, home-sharing platforms and rental tools could be the answer to housing challenges in the US, ...

‘Mini cities’: The rise of tall buildings

As cities continue to grow, the way we construct and manage buildings has never been more critical to global economic ...

Smart cities can change the world – if we radically rethink the approach

Tom Goodwin has high hopes for how smart cities could improve our lives. To get there, though, he says we need to think ...

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

OnDemand Panel Discussion: Digital twins and AI as the intelligent operating layer for cities

Webinars

Join us for insights from real-world case studies on the use of digital twins and AI as the present and future of urban management.

Latest Podcast

How cities can own their data and their future with sovereign AI

Podcasts

Tune into the SmartCitiesWorld podcast to understand the world of sovereign AI for cities, featuring PNY Technologies’ Youssef Nadiri as our expert guest.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

Latest Special Report

Building AI-ready cities: from pilots to public trust

Special Reports

From data foundations and ethical guardrails to workforce skills and citizen trust, the challenge is no longer whether to use AI in cities – but how to embed it in ways that are practical, human-centred, and built to last.

BECOME A MEMBER

Build your own Industry Resource Library
Gain access to all SmartCitiesWorld content
Make the most of Industry Webinar Events

Register Login

Most Popular

Solar-powered streetlights set to illuminate Austin community

Sacramento's sustainable mobility hub gets the green light

Smart city ranking focuses on citizens’ perceptions

Eco-neighbourhood aims to reshape urban living

Amsterdam adopts first ‘city doughnut’ model for circular economy

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Special Reports

City attractiveness as a new measure of urban success

City attractiveness as a new measure of urban success

Building water-smart cities

Surprise: a city of tomorrow

City Profiles

Smart Cities Reports