Throughout history, the diffusion of innovative technologies has enabled ever-increasing levels of connectivity – physically through bridges, aqueducts, railways and skyscrapers, virtually through internet connected sensors and contactless payments, and socially through urban design and civic infrastructure – delivering in turn scale and productivity. Research from MIT shows that an urban area which doubles in population enjoys a 130% boost in productivity.1 As the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy rightly notes, ‘Place’ is a key foundation of productivity and a driver of Britain’s future economic success.
However, just as places with high quality, high capacity connectedness enjoy success, when the quality and ‘bandwidth’ of that connectivity falters – whether physical, virtual or social – productivity and wellbeing also suffers.