Last week, the Norman Foster Institute (NFI) team visited Freetown, Sierra Leone, to commence the collaboration with the local administration on the city’s pilot research project, as part of the NFI’s Master’s Programme on Sustainable Cities.

During their visit, Dr Gareth Simons, Head of City Science of the NFI, and Olivia Poston, Lead Researcher of the NFI, met with Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown; Modupe Williams, Integrated Municipal Expert; and Raman Tom Farmar, Chief City Administrator, along with representatives from the Freetown City Council and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Planning.

Freetown is one of the three pilot cities selected for the 2025 programme, alongside Cape Town and Melilla. The discussions in Freetown addressed key urban priorities, including urban regeneration, climate resilience and sustainable mobility. The team explored strategies for mixed-use development and densification, the expansion of tree-planting efforts and coastal resilience initiatives, and the advancement of the cable car project as an efficient transport alternative.

Through close collaboration with local stakeholders, the NFI team aims to develop proposals that support Freetown’s sustainable growth, addressing critical urban challenges while enhancing resilience and quality of life.