"THE EMPTY CITY"by Dan Finnen is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
As vibrant and bustling cities turned to ghost towns due to Covid-19 restrictions, many began to leave their once beloved cities in search of a new life in the countryside. City living has been desired for its shortened commute and lively social scene, but in the face of the pandemic and the ever-increasing normalisation of working from home, where do our cities stand?
Rightmove, a leading property sales site in the UK, reports that inquiries from people living in cities in the UK in June and July 2020 increased by 78% compared with the same period last year. There was a 126% increase in people considering properties in village locations, but only a 68% rise in people searching for towns. This mass increase in interest in country homes was revealed in a study conducted by Opinium, which surveyed 1,000 UK adults in May 2020. The study investigated the adult's internet habits and usage, both before and during lockdown. The study found that more than two-thirds (68%) of people expect to work remotely more often even after lockdown restrictions ease. This demonstrates a shift to the online workplace, which begs the question: why should we stay in the city?
Why stay in the city?
For many, their support systems of family, friends and sometimes colleagues are in the city. As the ever-evolving pandemic, and the trying times it has induced across the nation, cause an increase in stress, having a stable and reliable support network has become increasingly important. According to a UK study of 3,097 adults orchestrated by King’s College London, stress, anxiety and depression were all significantly higher in participants during the first six weeks of social restrictions compared with previously published norms, with 64% of participants reporting symptoms of depression and 57% reporting symptoms of anxiety. However, with cities having less green space, and expensive house prices in conjunction with a reduced need to commute, a move to the country is exactly what some city-dwellers need.
So, why are people moving to the countryside?
Many people move to the city to shorten their commute, but with the reduction in the need to commute as a result of online working, people are less tied to cities. For some, the elimination of the commute has led to more freedom. With house prices in London on average being £514,000 in comparison to the national average of £256,000, the difference in price no longer seems justified due to the death of the many attractive qualities the city once held, such as the vibrant social scene, accessibility to top restaurants and the never-ending entertainment of various museums and other experiences pushing people to re-evaluate. Half of the renters (49%) currently in the market, surveyed by Rightmove, say lockdown has had an impact on what they are looking for. Many now realise that green space is much more important to them, becoming a common reason for moving; the city doesn’t provide the greenspace people now want prompting them to look to the countryside. The real estate agency Savilles claims that people are “now looking for houses with grasslands and farms” to feed their desire for more green space. Concerns surrounding health have also become much more prevalent with the threat of the Virus being so present, again, pushing people to want to lead a healthier lifestyle away from the UK epicentre of the pandemic, London.
Final thoughts
With the recent increase in interest surrounding moving to the countryside, it hints at a shift to rural living rather than city living. Due to house prices being cheaper in the countryside, more greenspace, and the new flexibilities of online working it seems logical to move; but will this be the death of cities? This could actually help cities to prosper - with cramped spaces and overcrowding, the exodus to the countryside could allow for more comfortable and cheaper city living, as the supply of accommodation may begin to match with the demand. Many people will stay in the cities due to the support networks they have created and the life that they’re accustomed too, and the fear that they could be isolated in the countryside. As the vaccine continues to be rolled out, restrictions will begin to ease allowing for shops, restaurants and social experiences to be revived, once again drawing people back into cities. So while rural areas are growing more popular, we don’t need to worry about the death of urban living quite yet.
Written by Thea McMenamin, 11KG
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