Our cities are facing rapid growth and rapid change. We are looking at a future where two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas by the year 2050. The past decade has witnessed many changes to planning, design and urbanism, particularly with the growth of digital products and services. The next 10 years are set to bring even greater changes as our technology, lifestyles and attitudes evolve even faster and even more dramatically.

But what have been the key trends to define these changes – and which have been the best improvements, and the most problematic developments? Crucially, what will – or should – be the key issues to shape and define urbanism over the next decade?

As UN member countries start implementing the New Urban Agenda on a global scale, the Young Urbanists have tackled key themes centred on a UK context regarding the forces that will shape the next decade and more of urban life, development and management. In our agenda, created over a series of workshops and focus groups, we put forward our suggestions for more inclusive and sustainable futures under four key themes: housing, transport, funding/devolution, and the digital revolution.

The Young Urbanists Agenda poses a series of questions that urbanists will aim to answer in the next 10 years. If we find the right answers to them, then the future for our cities is bright.