AAA White Paper The political economy of informal events, 2030 | Page 75

“ Transport, and obviously the Night Tube on Fridays and Saturdays, is a key enabler for night events in London. However, the converse also holds: night events benefit transport operators. In London, they’ve already helped raise usage of night buses. “ The extra transport demand created by night-time events can grease the wheels for 24-hour transport generally. After all, a third of Night Tube users are workers. Nightlife and night transport therefore make for timetables that help get shift workers to and from work. Looking toward 2030, they could also usher in a congestion- busting, quiet culture of London deliveries in the small hours. amenities, they make new, local housing developments more attractive. They also increase revenues for retail and hospitality firms that are open around local transport nodes at night. So for 2030 we need to be thinking about how nightlife, housing, the High Street and hospitality can work together to make a stronger, more successful 24-hour economy – good sleep for residents included! And we need a planning and licensing framework that supports that. “ Unfortunately, many boroughs still see nightlife as a problem to be managed, rather than an opportunity. But let’s remember: a street at night that’s full of people because of an event can be safer than a street at night that’s empty. ” “ The Docklands Light Railway (DLR), for instance, doesn’t presently run at night. But say it did, and really linked up entertainment hubs. Then East London night workers, currently ill-served by public transport, would also gain. “ Crossrail and its newbuild successors will run overnight, and, as London’s old Tube lines get refurbished, so by 2030 they’ll likely join today’s five Night lines in working Friday and Saturday nights. Executive director in charge of economy and tax at business campaigners London First, on transport – and London as a truly 24-hour city “ In fact, night events don’t just boost demand for transport. As Dr David Lutton 75