The age of suburbia

Only the most fervent centralist must now acknowledge that the age of centralisation has come to end. Indeed, as much was observed to be happening pre-Covid by the respected Brookings Institute in early 2019. The virus has just accelerated what was already underway.

Where does this leave the anti-suburban elites - the likes of Elizabeth Farrelly who infamously declared: "The suburbs are about boredom, and obviously some people like being bored and plain and predictable, I'm happy for them … even if their suburbs are destroying the world"?

Hopefully, it leaves them without a worshipping congregation anymore. Hopefully it means the suburbs and regions will no longer be regarded with disdain as second or even third rate living or working choices. Hopefully it also means we will see decades long obsessions with inner cities turn to more balanced views of where policy and infrastructure priorities should fall.

We are at the dawning of an age of suburbia – where regional and suburban economic needs can respectfully and rightfully claim equal status with those of the inner city. Policy makers would be wise not to resist this change but instead to embrace and support it.

PS: Yes, "The age of suburbia" is a nod to the flower power song of hope from 1969 by The Fifth Dimension - "The Age of Aquarius." You can get all groovy and sing along to the lyrics "Harmony and understanding, Sympathy and trust abounding, No more falsehoods or derisions, Golden living dreams of visions" … and watch the clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjxSCAalsBE

Let the sunshine in!