Shaping the future of the 15-Minute City

How do we design cities that are liveable, equitable, and future-proof? At CollectiveUP, we believe that the answer lies in participatory foresight: a structured, collaborative way to imagine and shape future urban environments together with citizens, especially young people.

We are excited to share our new publication: the Compendium of Participatory Foresight Methods for Planning the 15-Minute City. This resource brings together concepts, methods, and real-life examples to inspire municipalities, civic labs, NGOs, and practitioners across Europe and beyond.
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What is participatory foresight?

Participatory foresight goes beyond traditional consultation. It is an inclusive approach that involves citizens, youth, policymakers, businesses, and civil society organizations in envisioning different possible futures. Rather than reacting to change, cities can anticipate challenges and co-create strategies to turn preferred scenarios into reality.

This approach is particularly relevant for the 15-minute city concept, where residents should be able to access education, work, healthcare, leisure, and services within a short distance from home. Participatory foresight ensures that the transition toward proximity-based urban living is inclusive, equitable, and resilient.
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What’s inside the compendium

The compendium is designed to be practical, inspiring, and actionable. Here’s what you will find:

• Core concepts: Clear definitions of participatory foresight and proximity cities, with explanations of why involving youth is critical.
• Phases of foresight: Step-by-step processes from scenario-building to implementation, ensuring cities can move from vision to action.
• Methodologies: A rich toolbox including:
  
  • Creative and artistic approaches
  • Workshops and scenario-building exercises
  • Digital tools and platforms
  • Surveys and interviews tailored for young people
  • Simulations and role-playing methods
    
• Case studies: Real-world examples such as UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities Initiative, Block by Block by the UN, Y-PLAN (UC Berkeley), and innovative youth-led projects like Designathon Works and Youth4Bauhaus.
• Best practices: Guidelines for inclusive and accessible platforms, capacity building, collaborative design, and using technology to support long-term engagement.
• Stakeholder insights: How participatory foresight empowers communities, improves policy quality, encourages long-term thinking, and stimulates innovation, while also addressing common challenges like tokenism or resource demands.‍
• Practical recommendations: From embedding participation early in strategies to supporting intergenerational collaboration and creating feedback loops, the compendium is full of advice cities can put into practice right away.
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Why it matters

Involving young people in foresight is not just symbolic. It is essential for building urban futures that reflect the aspirations and needs of all generations. By co-creating scenarios with youth, cities can unlock creativity, strengthen trust, and ensure policies are better aligned with the challenges of tomorrow.

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Discover the full report

This compendium is more than a publication, it’s an invitation to rethink how we plan our cities. By using participatory foresight, municipalities and civic actors can make the 15-minute city a reality that is liveable, sustainable, and inclusive.

👉 Download and read the full Compendium of Participatory Foresight Methods for Planning the 15-Minute City now on our website.

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