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Is city living a figment of advertising agencies' imagination, or is it really happening?

It is happening if research looking at three UK cities carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Research's Centre for Cities is anything to go by. Between 1991 and 2001 the population of Dundee doubled, while Liverpool's grew by 40% and Manchester's by 300%.

Who is living in cities?

The new urbanite is young and single, but has not yet quite won professional status. In the three cities studied students had played a big part in the urban living boom. Without them Liverpool's population would have declined.

Surprisingly, there was little evidence of a move to the cities by empty nesters, the 50-somethings who trade in the family house for a city pad once the kids have gone off to uni. Even for the young, city living is regarded as a short-term option and the aim is to move on and out. Every year 30% of the population of a city does just that.

Why don't young people want to stay in the city?

We still don't think of cities as places for families with children, it appears. Cities are regarded as chaotic, dirty and noisy and they don't have enough parks and playspaces. They are also perceived to be lacking in good public services.

Should we be concerned that families don't want to live there?

The Centre for Cities says family-friendly cities should not be a priority, because the costs of providing sufficient infrastructure in city cores would be very high. Instead it recommends making inner suburbs into more attractive places for families to move to.

Could city centre living help Housing Market Renewal efforts, as city centres are often right next to low-demand areas?

The conclusion is an emphatic no. It may increase interest from investors, the Centre for Cities' City People report says, but it remains difficult to find people who want to buy into often stigmatised low-demand areas.

Is city centre living good for the local economy?

Its impact is small, but positive. But the city centre housing market is not likely to grow at the same rate in the near future, and student effects can damage the economic benefits of city centre living.