Leader – Hack to the future: the next ten years

As the Hackney Citizen celebrates its first decade, we have devoted space in our July print issue to recalling key moments of the last 10 years, but more important still is looking forward.

So step into the world of Hackney in 2028.

The electrification of transport has leapt forward; the council has declared the borough a petrol-free zone, dramatically reducing air pollution.

Smaller, greener cars require less space, allowing many roads to be pedestrianised with vegetables planted in communal strips down the centre.

The affordable housing conundrum has been solved by the rising popularity of modular ecohomes and the new social stigma against under-occupation.

With the countryside largely given over to crop farming, veganism has become the norm.

The nine-to-five job is looked upon as an encumbrance; most people now prefer to spend part of their day generating cash income, and the rest taking part in community enterprises such as tech-skill-sharing, solar panel repair and fruit preservation.

Life may not be perfect, but as the Hackney family sits down in the fresh air outside their front door to read the July 2028 issue of the Citizen, they reflect on how far we’ve come.