Covid, the Countryside and Cities a Changing Landscape.

With the start of the academic term with the impending return of learners to the classroom in a different environment to what they are familiar with. I am reminded of conversations I have had with friends and colleagues about the reluctance to return to the office. Now for many this likely started with the premise of being safer at home and then evolved into a growing realisation that working from home can offer its own benefits. For many it has saved time on the sufferable commute that many experience. It has provided its own flexibility around child care but this has been double edged for parents as well as care providers. In many areas the lack of travelling restored that sense of community and return of the neighbourhood as new tribes formed. Some people have also been far more productive at home the downside of which is those whose jobs rely on that fixed location have seen the backlash. 

In these changing times when industries begin to reflect and change with many recognising the cost benefit, mental health benefits and environmental positives we also need to remember that this is not completely beneficial. Some areas will face graver consequences from a changing working system then others as some businesses rely on the office for their survival. 

Some of the general benefits:

You are truly independent your work space is truly your own you can set it up to be at your most productive and could allow greater creativity. You can get more work done on the whole you spend less time commuting and engaging in the office drama. You’ll learn to excel in various forms of communication whether it be social media, zoom, or the forms of content delivery.

Some of the downsides:

Switching or rather lack their of it does your mental health no favours to not have an off switch it is better for your productivity and well being if you are able to effectively time manage you will ensure a greater success in your role. Sometimes you may feel you that you are not informed of the recent or ongoing developments. In some cases this could impact those seeking career growth maybe at a disadvantage if the talent market does not move with employee and work place demands. We also need to remember that our infrastructure is not ready for a profound shift utilities and other necessary provisions are not as robust in all areas of the country and this would have a consequence for productivity. Alongside the questions around productivity and the noticeable pros for the environment if we get used to this new environment we have to remember our own mental health. People need to switch off from their devices and the detachment of working elsewhere and taking a break when at home is more difficult when your office is your home. This is not mentioning how the housing market could be affected as city and commuter belt living see a decline will the rural countryside soar. 

Now the environmental benefits:

When you work from home, you are closer to your own amenities you can cook at home rather then rely on shops or restaurants locally. This can cut down on your own expense as well as your waste throughout the day. You can save energy the less energy wasted the less pollution your impact has regulating your house is far cheaper and more cost effective then making the office temperature uniform for a variety of needs of the individuals in your office. The same for energy usage as you can choose what rooms are being utilised and which rooms are not working. On top of this the commute by saving money, fuel and time on the commute you effectively can use this time elsewhere as well as reduce your impact on the planet. Whilst we are moving towards greener forms of travel electric vehicles still have harmful supply chains and combustion fuels are being moved away from. These types of vehicles are also likely to become more expensive as the demand for electric vehicles increase whilst the incentives also increase. Cycling for many is still not likely to be a viable alternative many of our roads are not designed to accommodate cyclist outside of the outskirts of the city.

Now what would this mean for our urban areas how would they survive and what changes can we expect. Now cities are still going to remain a centre for knowledge and cultural sharing but as with the changes in the high street they would need to evolve. With people spending less time in the working day in town centres and cities they would likely need to either change their working hours or what they offer. Now one solution to this would be flexible working where shops and convenience areas are open later in the day at particular times which can attract not the commuter but specific shoppers. Now whilst historically people often flocked to cities following periods of change like Covid this could be a different opportunity to change our way of working due to the benefits of the digital age. The question is could cities be made better by this opportunity could we see investments in the arts, theatres and museums where these centre of the arts return to centre stage of our society. Cities certainly will benefit from transport networks which favour cycling, walking and restrictions on the car could enable better opportunities to move around our cities making use of the roads whereas outside of peak times these roads can be returned to cars and vans to restock shops, bars and restaurants. We can also add in areas for wildlife and greater green spaces which take onboard innovations in the urban landscape such as planting more trees on our paths, wildflower verges and better use of brownfield sites as well as green spaces. Yet for cities to not only survive but thrive we should but our residents first focusing on social and environmental cohesion. Cities should take on board urban planning that takes a more inventive approach looking at the example of the Dutch in terms of wildlife corridors to continue to allow nature a home in the city environment. Make our towns and cities stand on their own highlighting the factors that makes them unique and distribute the relevant sectors to the correct areas to share the wealth across the country making the most of the unique characters of these places. The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of cities' capacity to overcome challenges but they need to embed this into the health of their city ensuring that public services are structurally at the heart of their communities but equally ensuring they have the capacity to cope with a crisis. Countries need to recognise the importance of various sectors voluntary, public and private noting where they fit together and what skills can be learnt from them. To enable a green and robust urban and rural link the roads and other transport links need to reflect this ensuring that cars are focused to areas where they park and get to the areas of the city they need to via park and rides. Cycle routes which are safe and effective for the public to use ensuring their safety and security. Look at other systems that can be employed which cities such as Manchester, London and Blackpool have utilised such as metro links, trams and trains combined with effective routes for walking and cycling. Showcase what is the best practice in your local area and share this with your community.

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/pros-cons-of-working-from-home

https://www.capital-ges.com/the-environmental-benefits-of-remote-working/ 

https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/01/future-of-cities-urban-life-after-coronavirus-pandemic/