I noticed recently that Barcelona has just appointed a night-time mayor to oversee and co-ordinate city activities to support its growing night-time economy, seen as vital to the quality of life and prosperity of the city. They are not the first to create such a post. Amsterdam pioneered a Night Mayor in 2012, Paris has a Night Council to link with governance structures and stakeholders. London since 2016 has had a ‘night czar’ in charge of the city between 18.00 and 6.00 hrs, whilst New York since 2018 has had an Office of Nightlife whose director is also in affect a night-time mayor. Overall, the World Economic Forum reckons that over 60 cities around the world have similar appointments. In the UK, the Night-Time Industries Association is hosting the Night-Time Economy Summit in Manchester next month, bringing together some 200 speakers from cities around the world to explore experience in supporting the night-time economy (NTE).

So what is changing that is it causing cities to adopt new measures to oversee what happens after night falls?

The night-time economy

Cities are busy places between 6pm and 6 am. Whilst we would normally think of hospitality, culture, entertainment and retail as the core of the night-time economy, it is also the case that services such as healthcare, social services, public transport and logistics, are not only vital for supporting these sectors but also have an important role in keeping the wider day-time economy running.

Cities have significant numbers of people working in nighttime jobs. It is estimated for example that in London 1 job in every 8 is in the night-time economy and in New York it supports some 300.000 jobs. In London there are 190,00 people working for the National Health Service every night and 150,000 who are working in professional services including anything from cleaning to working in global banking and financial services. Hospitality is only the next largest category including pubs, clubs, entertainment and accommodation.

The city night-time economy is substantial and growing. In New York it generates some $37bn in economic activity and around $700m in local tax revenue. The Night-time Industries Association in the UK claims the night-time economy accounts for £66bn or 6% of GDP and 8% of UK employment, and data suggests it is growing faster than the economy as a whole.

 It is not only large cities which have a significant night-time economy. Smaller cities too seek to harness the potential of the night-time economy for growth, sustainability and post-pandemic recovery. They see growing an inclusive and broad-based night-time economy as a contribution to the quality of city life, to make cities more attractive for visitors, and to support new economic and social development. The broad spectrum of productive, social and cultural activities taking place during night hours can improve conditions to support the rest of the day.

Challenges for the night-time economy

But the delivery of a thriving night-time economy is not without its controversies and challenges. Many see the night-time economy in a negative light, and bringing nothing but noise, unwanted traffic and alcohol-fueled anti-social behaviour. Common concerns are personal safety, especially for women, and criminality. It is not uncommon for towns and cities to respond with licensing restrictions over the use of venues such as pubs and clubs and the closure of parks or other facilities after dark if they are deemed as risky for users. Some, for economy reasons, have reduced street lighting, whilst those who work at night find limited transport options through the night-time hours.

There are those however who recognize the positive qualities of darkness as a different way to experience urban space full of potential for entertainment and economic activity. The delivery of a thriving night-time economy requires attention to a range of issues if it is to fulfil such expectations.  

Supporting a vibrant cultural sector

Despite the growth of the NTE as a whole, not all sectors are growing. Some, such as the cultural and night-club sector have been in decline for some time and are finding it hard to recover from changing social habits following the pandemic and the rising cost of living. Local authorities and night-time stakeholders need to find ways of collaborating which might lead to re-thinking business models and considering how the role of these facilities can help define place identity customer attraction.

 Limiting noise pollution and anti-social behaviour

Cities need to find a way to mediate between meeting the needs of those who want to sleep and those who want to have a good time or to develop their business. Addressing noise pollution and curbing ant-social behaviour are crucial to efforts for the promotion of night-time venues and the attractiveness of the city as a place to visit and to do business. There is a balance to be struck over the development of regulations and licensing arrangements which respect the needs of different groups, but which do not get in the way of creating new opportunities.

Innovation in the use of public places

The night opening of parks and green spaces as places for innovative cultural and community activities offers possibilities for re-vitalizing the use of public space and community development. The role of such spaces as part of a city response to climate change is increasingly recognized: they can be re-purposed to offer shelter from heat at night whilst also promoting the use of places otherwise deemed unsafe at night.

Promoting public safety and social inclusion

Efforts to ensure public safety in public spaces and at night-time venues are important in themselves and drawn attention to needs for suitable lighting and sight lines in the design of public spaces for night-time use.  It has also highlighted aspects of social inclusion around gender equality, the support needs for those venues used by particular social groups such as the LGBTQ community, and to combat forms of harassment and discrimination for nightclub and business workers as they travel to and from work.

Promoting urban mobility  

Ensuring access to urban transportation is a vital element for improving accessibility of work and of gender equality. The continuation of public transport or innovative door-to-door transport systems through the night hours is crucial, but brings with it a requirement for safe waiting areas in a friendly environment, and for re-thinking the uses of road space.

Policy responses

As we have seen, proposals to grow the night-time economy in cities have their critics who can point to a lack of reliable services and safety issues as holding back cities’ efforts to boost the pathway to re-invigorating city life and economy. Nevertheless, groups of cities are coming together to explore ways of creating accessible and thriving night-time economies. One such group, the 24-hour city network has been brought together by the World Economic Forum and Mastercard, whilst in Europe another is in place under the auspices of the European Union URBACT programme. In the UK the Night-time Industries Association is a vigorous promoter of strategies for the delivery and governance of the night-time economy.

The experience of existing innovations in governance arrangements has highlighted the substantial number and diversity of stakeholders involved in the delivery of the night-time economy, and the key role of night-time economy managers with direct links to service structures and decision-makers.

Some innovations are already in place. For example, the growing need for quality spaces that are clean, safe and inclusive is being addressed in London through Night Work Centers where night-time workers can access services, rest and re-charge in a clean and hygienic environment. Elsewhere, safety and traffic congestion in night-time city centres is being addressed by re-purposing bus lanes and the provision of safe pick-up and drop-off areas with restrooms, food, music and seating for those making way their way home or to night-time or early morning shifts. Public health issues are being addressed through mobile units of paramedics and security staff to provide immediate first aid and pastoral support for vulnerable people.

The 24-hour city

The idea of the ’24-hour city’ is not new. The night-time economy offers cities a way of unlocking some of the unrealized potential of their social and cultural life and the city economy. Some towns and cities are beginning to take a strategic approach to realizing this potential. They need to re-think how they prioritize services to support the particular needs of the night-time economy. Strategies need to embrace planning, policing, public health, health and social services, waste management, public and private transport, and more. If ever there was a case for joined-up working it is the enhancement of services at all hours of the day to ensure that it is not just New York that is the only place that ‘never sleeps’.

Night-time offers residents a new way of experiencing the urban landscape and as the night-time economy grows and diversifies it is changing the relationship with the day-time city. Arguably, as Robert Shaw puts it, night has become more ‘day-like’. Digital communications mean 24-hour news and access to information and contacts worldwide at any time. Cafes and restaurants are open for longer hours. Many cities have night buses, and more businesses operate through the night. Shift patterns are changing. The global economy requires action 24/7.

Yet we have not lost night. Night-time is still a challenge for public agencies as we have seen. Until cities offer the same activities and services at all times of the day, night-time will still have its distinctiveness. We are probably experiencing a transformation of both day and night with both demonstrating more flexible characteristics. City planning now needs a temporal dimension to add to its focus on space and place.

Source: Managing the 24-hour City: Re-thinking the Relationship between Night and Day