The best way to understand the future of the British city is to look at what it was like 20 years ago.

Air quality in our cities will have substantially improved by 2040 – with today’s ‘toxic air’ becoming the last ever such era of poor air quality in our cities.

City centre high street will be much more mixed, and change more rapidly, by 2040 – with the data to match.

Real estate investment per capita in our cities implies smaller cities will outperform over the next 20 years – but city policy makers can affect the outcome.

Both shopping and shops will still be vital to city centres in 2040. But what, and who, is in those shops will be very different.

By 2040, many central subterranean car parks will have been converted into last mile logistics hubs.

Congestion charging schemes still thin on the ground by 2040, but London’s will still be in place – with delivery vehicles bearing the brunt.

The UK will have a new city by 2040.

A lack of city centre stock will stimulate a new generation of suburban business parks by 2040.

Both shopping and shops will still be vital to city centres in 2040. But what, and who, is in those shops will be very different.

Rising densities in all our cities will create new social and economic opportunities by 2040.

Expect the city of 2040 to be a tough, energetic, virtual-reality enhanced adventure playground.

Was there a topic missing from CBRE’s cities campaign? Get in touch and let us know.