The UK population is ageing significantly. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 1.75 million people were aged 85 or over in mid-2024, representing 2.5% of the UK population. By 2049, this is projected to increase to 3.6 million — almost 5% of the population. (Source: Office for National Statistics) 

At the same time, urban environments are becoming increasingly dense and vertical. As people live longer and expect to remain active and independent, this demographic shift has important implications for the accessibility of buildings and transport infrastructure. More people with a wide range of mobility needs must be able to navigate complex urban environments. 

In parallel, the infrastructure serving our population is ageing—both here in the UK and globally. Industry estimates suggest that around nine million of the world’s 23 million lifts are between 15 and 20 years old and approaching the point at which modernisation should be considered. In the UK, there are more than 300,000 lifts, with around half estimated to be more than 25 years old. (LEIA estimate). Age alone does not necessarily make properly maintained equipment unsafe or unserviceable, but it can bring increasing issues with obsolete components, declining reliability, higher energy use and limited accessibility or connectivity. 

The opportunity is there to ensure that the UK’s next chapter of growth is shaped for the people who use, manage and depend on existing buildings and infrastructure every day. Updates such as larger buttons, clear voice guidance, brighter lighting, longer door-opening times, handrails and well-planned space can make journeys safer and easier. 

For Otis, modernisation goes beyond renewing individual assets: it starts with listening carefully to customers, understanding how their needs and communities are evolving, and planning for the mobility requirements of tomorrow. By working closely with our customers and combining our lift expertise with innovative technology and quality service, we can support their ambitions, deliver lasting value and build successful, long-term collaborations founded on trust, responsiveness and reliable delivery. 

Lifts and escalators are critical infrastructures that support autonomy, inclusion and participation. For older people and those with reduced mobility, reliable access can determine whether they can remain in their homes, maintain their independence, reach healthcare, use public transport and stay connected to their communities. 

When vertical mobility fails in a high-density environment, the impact extends far beyond inconvenience. In hospitals, for example, delays can affect the movement of patients, medical teams, medicines and equipment. In residential towers, older residents can become isolated. In transport hubs and commercial buildings, outages interrupt passenger flow and daily operations. 

For Otis, maintaining lift and escalator availability and responding rapidly when issues arise are essential to keeping buildings and infrastructure operating as intended. Together, they provide reliability, continuity and peace of mind for building owners and the people who depend on them every day. 

Planned modernisation offers a practical route between increasingly intensive maintenance and complete replacement. 

Modernisation is as much a planning challenge as a technical one. Hospitals, homes, stations, shops and offices cannot always tolerate prolonged shutdowns. 

The right approach starts with the condition, use and operational importance of each unit. Retaining sound structures and renewing only what is needed can also make better use of resources and reduce the material impact of extending an asset’s life. 

Components such as controllers, drives, wiring, doors, steps, handrails and safety systems can be renewed in stages while viable structures are retained. This can improve safety to the latest standards, extend asset life, reduce disruption and improve availability and passenger experience. 

Digital transformation has often focused on software, connectivity and data, but software alone cannot address the needs of an ageing society or a taller city. 

As buildings become higher, busier and more integrated with the wider urban environment, vertical mobility must operate as part of the building’s connected ecosystem. 

Sensors, analytics and AI can potentially detect anomalies before failures occur, support predictive maintenance and help service teams reduce downtime and use resources more effectively. Otis ONE™ is an IoT solution that connects lifts to the cloud. Through real-time data insights and remote monitoring, it helps optimise building performance, improve equipment reliability and enable faster, more proactive service. 

Intelligent destination management can also respond to complex passenger flows, reduce waiting times and support a smoother journey through high-rise buildings. This is how digital capability becomes an infrastructure outcome: greater availability, more efficient movement and a better experience for the people who rely on it. 

For all of us, the focus must be on how new and existing buildings can work together as part of a resilient, inclusive urban system—one that gives people the freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world.