Overview

One of the many anticipated lasting consequences of the covid-19 crisis is a structural change in working practices and residential preferences, brought about by remote working and an associated desire for spacious homes in aesthetically appealing locales. This shift has the potential to fundamentally reshape the geographies of work and home. However there remains much uncertainty regarding the permanency of these changes. Furthermore, they risk forming new social cleavages between those benefitting from new working practices and able to meet their residential preferences and those unable to do so. This research will analyse statistical datasets and conduct in-depth interviews with key stakeholders to elucidate the nature of changing working practices and residential preferences and to shed light on their socio-economic implications. Given its significance nationally and to the wellbeing of specific types of places and population sub-groups, this research has considerable public, commercial and policy saliency.