Hybrid model accelerates suburban revitalisation

During the Great Smog of 1952, more than 4,000 Londoners died in four weeks. It was one of the reasons why millions left the city and moved to the suburbs. That trend continued through the 1960s and 1970s. Similarly, New York experienced smog in the 1950s and 1960s and its population dropped by one million in the 1970s. The suburbs were cleaner and safer.

That trend reversed during the '80s and '90s. Not only were cities like London affordable, but also provided young people with work and opportunity. If you wanted to get ahead, you moved to the city.

But as urban populations grew and the cost of living increased, so did working in and commuting to cities, leading to pollution and more stressed people.

Vehicle emissions contribute to the deterioration in air quality, especially in urban areas. There is a constant increase in the number of privately owned vehicles in South Africa. The increase in the number of vehicles has, as expected, resulted in an increase in fuel consumption.

In urban areas, vehicle emissions may be responsible for 90 to 95 per cent of carbon monoxide and 60 to 70 per cent of nitrogen oxides within the atmosphere. Emissions from vehicles contribute to photochemical smog, especially in areas that experience high traffic density such as central business districts (CBDs)

We’re now experiencing another shift in the relationship between the big cities and the suburbs.

From urban to suburban

We are seeing previously dormitory towns and communities come back to life as workers split their time between home, a local workspace and a corporate HQ. With hundreds more rural and suburban flexible working locations expected to open in the coming years, we expect a wide range of vibrant local communities to develop with thriving businesses at their heart.

In 2022 and beyond, many modern professionals will no longer be obligated to attend a central office on a daily basis, thanks to the mainstream adoption of hybrid working, which means they can base themselves from home, a coworking space – visiting an urban HQ from time to time.

This will not only enable them to move out of cities to better-value areas in terms of housing (or spend more time in suburban communities) but also motivate companies to invest in local coworking spaces that are more convenient and less costly than expansive HQs at premium city addresses.

As the traditional exodus of people (especially younger people) from towns and villages to the city reverses, the result will be an unparalleled wave of suburban revitalisation in countries all around the world.

“With hundreds more rural and suburban flexible working locations set to open in the coming years, we expect a wide range of vibrant local communities to develop with thriving businesses at their heart,” says Mark Dixon, CEO and founder of Regus parent company IWG. “People want to work close to where they live, so this is a trend that’s going to stick.”

Environmental and social impact

There are clear advantages to these trends in terms of greater wellbeing, productivity and the environment. Suburban revitalisation, along with the reduced need to commute afforded by the hybrid model, means significantly lower carbon emissions.

And the time taken on these journeys wasn’t always due to distance from the office – in many cases, traffic congestion or insufficient public transport were a factor. In 2019, Americans lost an average of 99 hours sitting in congestion, according to research company Inrix.

The benefits of the part-time commute are obvious. Think of having an extra half hour in bed, then sitting down at a home desk or strolling to a nearby flexspace.

The rise of the 15-Minute City

Empowering people to work close to where they live in the suburb also paves the way for the development of the ‘15-Minute City’, where all local amenities such as shops, schools, restaurants and workspaces can be reached within15 minutes on foot, by bicycle or via another non-polluting form of transport.

As Dixon concludes: “Work/life balance will improve, making people more productive and healthier. And with travel reduced, carbon emissions will fall. Meanwhile, investment will flood in for new infrastructure and facilities. This will be one of the most dramatic and long-lasting legacies of the pandemic.”

About IWG PLC

Through our companies we provide that choice, and serve the whole world of work: Regus, Spaces, No18, Basepoint, Open Office and Signature. We create personal, financial, and strategic value for businesses of every size. From some of the most exciting companies and well-known organisations on the planet, to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. All of them harness the power of flexible working to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market proximity.

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