Project: InPLACE: Investigating planning, place-making and commuting: The changing spatial relationship between homes and workplaces

Research published September 2024

Lead researchers and institutions:

Gavan Rafferty, Ulster University *; Caroline Creamer, Maynooth University; Karen Keaveney, University College Dublin *; Des McCafferty, Mary Immaculate College; Brendan O’Keeffe, Independent Researcher.

* RTPI-accredited planning school 

Publisher:

International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD)

Funders:

Local Government Management Agency; Maryland Department of Transportation; Clare County Council; Department for Infrastructure; Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Office of the Planning Regulator; Cork County Council; Tomar Trust.

NOTE:  Findings and recommendations reflect the views of the researchers at the time of writing and are not necessarily the views of the RTPI

Key takeaways

Out-commuting from small rural towns has some positive effects:

• Economic: Commuting gives rural residents access to higher-paying jobs in urban centres, with their increased household incomes also benefitting local businesses. This has helped revitalize rural towns, bringing new economic opportunities and demographic renewal.
• Social: High levels of commuting  were not found to be weakening social cohesion in rural settlements across the case study towns as hybrid and remote working were offering more opportunities for commuters to engage with their local communities.

It also several adverse effects including:

• Local infrastructure pressures: Commuting has contributed to rapid population growth, putting pressure on infrastructure in rural towns e.g. housing, schools, healthcare, transport networks and leading to overcrowding and traffic congestion.
• Environment and health: Commuting, especially by car, adds to greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution, while long commutes are linked to greater stress and negative health impacts e.g. mental fatigue and cardiovascular risks.
• Housing affordability: Commuting is pushing up housing costs in many rural settlements, making it less affordable for long-term residents and low-income families.  

Summary

In recent decades Ireland has seen an increase in commuting from rural settlements to urban centres. This is due to a transition to jobs in high-technology manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services, which are mostly located in cities and large towns.

This three-year study sought to fill a gap in understanding of the impacts of out-commuting on small rural settlements, especially long-distance and long-duration commuting. It focused on nine case studies: seven rural towns across Ireland and Northern Ireland, and two in the state of Maryland, USA.

The findings were broadly similar for the rural towns in Ireland and Maryland. They reveal many adverse effects associated with long-distance commuting, and offer insights for policymakers, planners, and local governments on its impacts on rural life.

The authors consider policies to reduce the volume and scale of car-based commuting from home to the workplace such as:

• bringing workers closer to their jobs through better housing policies that have urban affordability and quality at their core;
• bringing jobs closer to workers through better local development policies;
• enabling commuters to change travel modes through updated transport policy interventions;
• promoting more telecommuting e.g. through remote working hubs in rural communities.

The authors highlight that commuting is a multi-faceted, variable and complex phenomenon, and tackling it needs co-ordinated action across multiple policy sectors involving multiple agencies and government departments as well as local authorities.

Recommendations

• The report calls for integrated policies that address affordable housing, public transportation, and sustainable development in rural areas to reduce the negative effects of long-distance out-commuting.
• It suggests that investments in infrastructure and support for remote working can help mitigate the negative impacts of commuting and ensure the long-term sustainability of rural communities.
• Each rural community has its own set of unique set of social and geographical characteristics which should be taken into account when developing local solutions.

Full reference

Rafferty, G., Creamer, C., Keaveney, K., McCafferty, D. & O’Keeffe, B. (Sept 2024). ‘InPLACE: Investigating Planning, Place-Making and Commuting: The changing spatial relationship between homes and workplaces.’ 270 pages. International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD)