Remote working may have changed the face of the workplace, but it has also redefined how and where we live, giving employees the chance to live where they wish without impacting their job prospects and moving economic activity away from urban centres to support a boom in rural economies.
Independent research released today by rural broadband provider Fibrus, has revealed the Top 10 places to live as a remote worker in Northern Ireland with Limavady, the north west town less than 20 miles from Derry City ranking No 1.
Drawing on a robust set of measures – including broadband speed, average house prices, access to shared and flexible workspaces, proximity to green spaces, and transport links to cities – the Index reveals the locations offering the strongest mix of connectivity, affordability and quality of life for remote workers in Northern Ireland.
Limavady boasts the top connectivity rating, with 95% of homes having ultrafast broadband availability, critical for remote workers. Ranking favourably with average house prices of £166,332 for a three-bed home and average rent costs of £860pcm, the town also scored well for green spaces with 52% of land within one mile, 85% within two miles and 92% within 10 miles allocated as green spaces, allowing home workers a solace for a lunch time, pre-or post-work stroll.
Other high-ranking towns were Strabane, Banbridge, Newtownabbey, Ballymoney, and Antrim.
Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer of Fibrus Group said: “Last year, we commissioned a Futurist to look at the potential of rural communities as engines for growth, and remote working was just one of the pillars of growth over the next 25 years.
“Thanks to Project Stratum, Northern Ireland boasts full fibre coverage of 95%, 9% ahead of the UK average, meaning our rural towns are now competing on a level playing field for broadband speed – not just against NI’s capital city of Belfast but also compared to other urban hubs around the UK where many of NI’s skilled and talented workforce may be residing. We’d like to think there is now a compelling reason to live and work anywhere in Northern Ireland, without compromising your career prospects.
“We know anecdotally from our customers how much this enhanced connectivity has already enabled people to return to their hometown, possibly to start a family or to set up their own business, but we were interested to see how NI’s towns stacked up when it came to other factors that would create a really attractive proposition to a remote worker or someone who regularly ‘works from home’ – especially through the lens of someone considering a return to Northern Ireland from further afield.”
Thomas Adeleaux, Limavady resident and remote worker said: “Remote working has really had a positive impact on Limavady. It’s allowed people like me to work from home, spend in local restaurants, shops and gyms during the working week and it’s also enabled young families to lay roots here – a new generation of users of local nurseries, libraries, schools and clubs.”
Emma McNally, Head of Strategic Partnerships, PropertyPal Group said: “We recognise that reliable broadband connectivity is increasingly becoming one of the most important factors for buyers and renters when choosing a home. With the rise of hybrid working as a permanent fixture in many people’s lives, we’re seeing a notable uplift in interest for properties in rural communities, especially now that the digital infrastructure has improved so much.
“This research by Fibrus is a fantastic initiative, offering valuable insights for home movers. It’s great to see such a diverse range of locations represented in the top 10 list, with rural areas ranking so strongly alongside city living.”
Fibrus recently announced a partnership with PropertyPal and Propertynews as the sponsor of the broadband speed checker tool across both websites.
The top 10 best places to Work from Home in Northern Ireland are:
- Limavady
- Strabane
- Banbridge
- Newtownabbey
- Dromore
- Crumlin
- Omagh
- Ballymoney
- Antrim
- Randalstown
For more information visit the Remote Working Index map at: https://fibrus.com/remote-working-index-northern-ireland-results