Policy J/RW: Enabling remote working

Whilst there has been trend towards workers working all or part of their working week from home over recent years, the COVID-19 Pandemic has dramatically accelerated this shift. The post-pandemic future remains uncertain; however, surveys suggest that many companies’ workers will look to continue some level of home-working.

Many workers welcome this change, valuing the reduction in the time and money spent commuting and the promise of flexibility in future working patterns. However, for others there can be difficulties in working at home, including lack of space, difficulties with childcare and the impacts on mental health of solitary working.

For firms too, particularly those in the knowledge-based economy, there can be downsides to this remote working with the loss of human contact reducing the exchange of ideas and innovation associated with day-to-day contact and networking.

The

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

could offer support to home adaptations that may be needed (although many of these changes may already fall under Permitted

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

).

Work hubs would provide shared space for workers located within buildings in local neighbourhoods. Appropriate size would generally be dependent on the size of the local community. In villages they would be smaller in scale but in cities and towns they could be considerably larger.

Community work hubs could provide an accessible, sustainable solution for workers. They could also support the development and growth of new enterprises not only through the exchange of knowledge with peers but also by providing a focus for business support provision. Policy is needed to encourage and enable this type of facility.

In our First Conversation consultation we had a number of responses that requested policies that support flexible and home working in order to respond to changing work patterns. The need to provide dwellings with flexible spaces and good broadband services was highlighted as well as cafes and co-working spaces in close proximity to homes.

No policy – This is not the preferred approach, as the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need to support flexible working arrangements.

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  : Topic paper 6: Jobs
• Greater Cambridge Employment Land and Economic Development Evidence Study (November 2020)

South Cambridgeshire

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018

• Policy H/18: Working at Home

Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 - None

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.