Commuter countryside
Like suburbia, commuter countryside is
economically orientated towards cities and large towns, and is
characterised by physical proximity to the major conurbations or
access routes to them. In the future, it may be increasingly
defined by its virtual access. Commuter countryside, of course,
provides ‘living space’ for commuters – but it
also provide the services they need.
The expansion of commuter countryside over recent
years will continue as more people travel from longer distances,
encouraged by the option to work from home at least for some of the
week.
More commuters
There will be more jobs to commute to, many of
them in the cities - especially those cities which compete
successfully in the global economy. And there will be more work on
the urban fringe as companies look for space to build modern,
attractive premises. At the same time, more people will want to
commute, especially those in professional and managerial jobs.
Travel patterns will become more complex, as people travel not only
to nearby cities, but cross-country.
Transport improvements
Overcrowding in London and the South East will
make transport improvements a priority. High speed rail links could
bring much of the Midlands to within an hour’s commute of
London. Faster road travel could come from extra lanes on
motorways, and perhaps from Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems
– where smart cars are driven automatically almost bumper to
bumper on designated roads.
These developments would bring fresh parts of the
countryside within commuting distance of large cities, extending
commuter countryside to new areas. Parts of the rural economy will
be profoundly transformed.
Working from home
Commuters will increasingly spend part of their
time working from home. Already 2.2 million people telework, and it
is estimated that almost a quarter of Britons could do so. This
could boost the local economy - the more days commuters spend at
home, the more they will spend locally. It could also encourage
local networking, and strengthen rural communities. Increased
teleworking might partly offset the increase in fuel consumption
and ca