// CITY_ASSESSMENT
How smart is Chester?
Chester, United Kingdom, scores 46.5% against the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework in 2026 — ranked #58 of 75 cities assessed, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Smart score
46.5%
Rank
#58 / 75
Criteria present
36 / 86
Evidence coverage
52.3%
Chester's smart city score by area
3 present · 2 partial · 5 absent · 5 not assessed
5 present · 2 partial · 1 absent · 4 not assessed
6 present · 1 partial · 2 absent · 4 not assessed
7 present · 1 partial · 1 absent · 2 not assessed
8 present · 2 partial · 2 absent · 1 not assessed
5 present · 1 partial · 1 absent · 1 not assessed
2 present · 0 partial · 9 absent · 3 not assessed
Where Chester is strong
- ▸Air Quality & Monitoring
- ▸Inclusion & Civic Participation
- ▸Food Security & Urban Agriculture
- ▸Digital Government Services
- ▸Public Transport & Real-Time Information
Where the gaps are
- ▸Open Data & Transparency
- ▸Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure
- ▸Governance & Smart-City Operating Model
- ▸Disaster Risk & Resilience
- ▸Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin
Evidence highlights
Digital Government Services · Citizen reporting / 311 channel
Cheshire West and Chester offers a dedicated 'Report It' section on its website for citizens to report issues.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/contact-us/report-itActive & Shared Mobility · Bike / e-scooter sharing scheme
Chester has an electric scooter trial that is being extended into the next year.
https://www.welovegoodtimes.co.uk/chester-electric-scooter-trial-to-be-extended-into-next-year/Air Quality & Monitoring · Air-quality monitoring network
Chester has an air quality monitoring program, as evidenced by the Cheshire West and Chester Council's air quality monitoring page and the designation of an Air Quality Management Area.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-monitoringAir Quality & Monitoring · Clean air / low-emission zone
Chester has a low-emission strategy and an Air Quality Management Area, indicating a plan to improve air quality.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/low-emission-strategyAbout this assessment
Chester was assessed against the 86 criteria of the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework on 2026-06-30 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, and every finding links to where it was found — see how smart cities are measured. Scores refresh continuously as cities publish new evidence.