London crowned top global city despite Brexit challenges
London has topped the list on a new index that claims to be the most comprehensive international city ranking yet, with research showing the capital is in the best possible shape to meet the challenges of Brexit.
After sifting through dozens of the most robust city indices and benchmarks – 44 in total – researchers at professional services firm JLL crowned London the best of just seven Established World Cities.
The new ranking was based on seven factors: corporate presence, city gateway function, market size, infrastructure platform, access to talent, specialisation and innovation and soft power.
Read more: London is the gateway to the world for EU business
Below London were New York, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul.
“London is a magnet for talent, capital and businesses because of its scale, diverse economic base, global visibility, extensive infrastructure and appetite for tech innovation,” said Jeremy Kelly, director in global research at JLL.
“It ranks top or near the top on numerous criteria such as the transparency of its real estate market, the presence of corporate HQs and soft power – its brand and identity,” he added.
While Kelly said it was true that Brexit could disrupt London’s position as a European “gateway” as well as the inflow of talent moving into the capital, he said there were a number of city-wide policies in the pipeline that could mitigate this impact.
“The completion of Crossrail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel, alongside the 2050 London Infrastructure Plan, will ensure London will future proof and maintain world-class infrastructure. Policies aimed at making London a smart city, moves to upgrade digital infrastructure and the emergence of new innovation hubs, such as at Imperial West, will also provide substantial long-term benefits,” he said.
“The potential negative impact of Brexit on London cannot be ignored, however, the city is in the best possible shape to meet these challenges.
Althought London is at the top of its game, the report found there are certain areas where the city must tackle challenges head on, including housing affordability, growing inequality and air pollution.
Read more: London tops smarts cities index