As artificial intelligence transforms society, the infrastructure behind it is reshaping cities and landscapes. This manifesto explores the role of data centres, their impact on the built and natural environment, and the importance of integrating them through thoughtful planning and design as essential components of resilient, future-ready cities.

For the first time, the tools shaping our cities can model the long-term consequences of decisions before they are built. And yet, the physical outcomes of contemporary development often feel thinner, shorter-lived, and less generous than those built centuries ago. Can we better leverage these tools to help us make smarter decisions and create more liveable cities?

The confidence that shaped Britain’s postwar new towns, must now be updated for climate transition, demographic change, and economic transformation. This Manifesto argues that large-scale strategic planning, supported by long term, top-down vision and policy that focusses on future-proofing is crucial in order to build well at scale.