British city centre residents are predominantly young, single people, and most city centres cannot be made ‘family friendly’ places to live, according to new research published by the Institute for Public Policy Research’s Centre for Cities. The research examines the growth of city centre living outside London.

The report says planners and developers should turn their attention to the ‘doughnuts of deprivation’ in nearby inner suburbs. These areas are the priorities for regeneration, and can better accommodate the schools, healthcare, parks and shops that people want when they start families.

The report shows that city centre living grew significantly over the past 15 years. In total, around 30,000 people now live in the centres of Manchester and Liverpool. City centre housing markets have seen huge growth and remain a good long term bet, but a slowdown looks likely in the short term.

People living in the centre of cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Dundee are twice as likely to be single as the average Briton. Around two thirds are aged 18 to 34, compared with a quarter nationally. Half the people of working age living in Liverpool’s city centre are students. More than one third of working residents in Manchester and Liverpool city centres walk to work, compared to a national average around one in 10.

There is a ‘conveyor belt effect’ in city centres, with most people staying only a few years. A third of residents move in or out each year, around three times higher than the national average.

ippr focus groups show that shops, bars, cafes, being able to walk to work and the city centre ‘buzz’ are the main attractions. Retail, leisure and nightlife were far more important than art galleries and concert halls.

Max Nathan, Centre for Cities Senior Researcher and report author, said: "Young, single people have led the return to the city. Britain’s distinctive, young-adult driven model of city centre living has enduring appeal – for the time being."

"But families and older people prefer neighbourhoods with houses, parks, schools and healthcare. This is a great opportunity for planners and developers to improve deprived areas near the centre, rather than passing on the cost of family infrastructure in city cores."