Live/Work Network to produce national workhubs study

The study, backed by the Communities and Local Government Department, Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), will include case study visits to hubs that help home based businesses and live/workers to reduce costs, network and collaborate.

The project will take forward delivery of the Taylor Review rural economy proposal for exemplar hubs and live/work schemes, a recommendation accepted by the government earlier this year. It will also look into the carbon benefits of supporting home based businesses with hubs that are used to back up homeworking as an altewrrnative to having entirely separate workspace and home.

The HCA is issuing guidance to local authorties for its 'single conversation' funding process which asks councils to consider both live/work development and hubs. The national study will help the HCA look for schemes to deliver as part of its commitment to invest in local carbon economy place-making.

Tim Dwelly, director of Live/Work Network, commented: 'This project will bring together best practice on workhubs for the first time. It will inform investments in such facilities that are already in the pipeline and we hope will encourage new hubs to be created. We are currently looking for regions keen to make hubs and live/work part of their low carbon economy infrastructure. RDAs in particular may wish to join the project, which will cover both urban and rural opportunities for hubs.'

A report is expected in the spring of 2010 with a national conference to launch it, along with a new network of hubs that will encourage knowledge sharing and help homeworkers find a hub near them.

Read more about the Taylor Review.
Visit our sister website workhubs.