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Our aim is to reduce the gap in productivity between the least well performing
quartile of rural areas and the English Median by 2008, demonstrating
progress by 2006, and improve the accessibility of services for people
in rural areas.
The evidence for poor economic and social conditions in some rural areas
is both compelling and measurable. Our target is to lay solid foundations
to achieve sustainable and long term regeneration in these areas.
Latest news
Consultation on the next Rural Development Programme for England (2007-2013)
Defra has launched a consultation on the priorities for the next Rural Development Programme for England, which will run from 2007-2013. The consultation provides an opportunity to comment on how the next Programme could be used to make a real difference in rural areas, by safeguarding and enhancing our rural environment and fostering thriving rural communities. [Further Information].
Closure of England Rural Development Programme ‘Project-based Schemes’
In order to pave the way for the new England Rural Development Programme, which will begin on 1 January 2007 and run until 31 December 2013, we’re closing the current ‘Project-based Schemes’ to new applications on 30 June.
This means that all applicants for the Rural Enterprise Scheme, the Processing and Marketing Grant, the Vocational Training Scheme and the Energy Crops (SRC) Producer Group Scheme, need to get their forms in to their local Rural Development Service office by 30 June 2006.
[Further Information]
Rural Social and Community Programme
More than 200 individuals and organisations took the opportunity to have
their say on how Defra’s new £27 million funding programme
that begins next April should be used. Those contributions have helped
Ministers to reach decisions on how the Rural Social and Community Programme
should be delivered, details of which are published in our consultation
response. [Further
Information]
Gateway Stations: A Partnership story (Final report on the two-year
pilot programme)
 The
programme was established to help market towns develop integrated transport
networks and encourage and promote economic and social prosperity within
these towns and their surrounding countryside. It offered targeted support
to 13 railway stations across England. [Further
Information]
Affordable Rural Housing Commission
The provision of affordable housing for both rent and purchase is a key
issue for people living and working in rural areas and is vital to a prosperous
and vibrant countryside, helping to support diverse communities which
are inclusive and socially and economically vibrant. While the causes
and experience of a lack of affordable housing are very similar in urban
and rural areas, the solutions for rural communities have to be tailored
to take account of, for example, the environmental qualities of the countryside,
and the higher unit costs of development. [Further
Information]
 Rural
Strategy 2004
On 21 July 2004 The Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, launched the
Rural Strategy 2004 which sets the framework for the Government’s
rural policy for the next 3-5 years.
The Rural Strategy 2004 identifies three key priorities for rural policy:
- Economic and Social Regeneration - supporting enterprise
across rural England, but targeting greater resources at areas of greatest
need.
- Social Justice for All - tackling rural social exclusion
wherever it occurs and providing fair access to services and opportunities
for all rural people.
- Enhancing the Value of our Countryside - protecting
the natural environment for this and future generations.
Sustainable development underpins all of these policies and their delivery
arrangements. [Further
Information]
Modernising Rural Delivery
The implementation of the Strategy is, in the main, being carried out
through the ‘Modernising Rural Delivery programme’ in Defra,
which began with the announcement of the Strategy, and runs until March
2007.
[Further information]
We are about to publish (via these web pages) an update on progress against
the Strategy. We also publish a monthly
newsletter, which provides regular progress reports on all aspects
of the programme.
New Rural Development Regulation
The European Commission published the draft new Council Regulation on
support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development (EAFRD) on 15 July 2004 as part of the package for the next
EU financial perspective (2007 – 2013). [Further
information]
England Rural Development Programme
 The
England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) underpins Government's New
Direction for Agriculture by helping farmers and foresters to respond
better to consumer requirements and become more competitive, diverse,
flexible and environmentally responsible... [Further
Information]
Rural Voice
The Rural White Paper (2000)
said it was important that Ministers should “have regular and direct
contact with the main rural groups so that they know what is going on
and what countryside people think”. The Government remains fully
committed to this and believes a role for the Rural Advocate at national
level is as strong as ever. [Further
information]
Social Enterprise
Social enterprise has significant potential to contribute to the achievement
of our overarching aim of sustainable development and other policy objectives.
Social enterprises bring benefits for the public through local regeneration,
wealth creation, social inclusion, environmental improvement and better
service delivery in rural areas. [Further
information]
Rural Enterprise and Skills
Viable, sustainable businesses are crucial to the prosperity of the countryside,
and in Rural Strategy 2004 Defra made a commitment to working to ensure
that rural businesses have access to appropriate business support and
training. Since then, we have worked with partners from central, regional
and local government on a number of projects to help rural businesses
get the help and advice they need [Further
Information]
Public Access to the Countryside
This page provides information about Defra's work on public access to
the countryside, developed under the Countryside
Stewardship Scheme (CSS) and Environmentally
Sensitive Areas (ESAs) Scheme. Information on the Countryside
and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) is available separately on the Defra
website... [Further
Information]
Horse Industry
The horse industry is an important contributor to the national and especially
rural economies, the social fabric of rural communities, and environmental
and land management. Defra works for the good of horses for people who
ride, own, or work with horses; and for the sustainable benefits which
horses bring to economies and communities. [Further
information]
Structural Funds
The EU Structural Funds exist to help areas of Europe which, for one
reason or another are suffering difficulties. This could be due to the
decline of local industry or falls in income (e.g. because of falling
commodity prices reducing farm incomes). The funds are intended to be
used to help sponsor projects which will directly address locally identified
needs.
LEADER+
LEADER+ is a 6 year European Community initiative for assisting rural
communities in improving the quality of life and economic prosperity
in their local area. Partnerships of local organisations and people
(local action groups) receive funds to identify development needs within
their rural communities and develop and test small-scale, innovative
pilot projects to meet these development needs in a sustainable way...
[Further
Information]
Objective 1
To promote the development and structural adjustment of regions whose
development is lagging behind. The Objective 1 Programme runs from 2000
to 2006. In England, three areas (Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,
South Yorkshire and Merseyside) have been designated for Objective 1
support... [Further
Information]
Objective 2
To support the economic and social conversion of areas facing structural
difficulties. Objective 2 areas in England are funded through the England
Rural Development Programme (ERDP). All ERDP schemes in Objective
2 Areas operate as in other areas except for some measures under the
Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES)....
[Further
Information]
 Rural
White Paper
Our Countryside: The
Future - A Fair Deal for Rural England
Summary
The countryside is important to all of us. Town and country are interdependent
and the needs of both have to be addressed together. But there are special
problems in rural areas which require a direct response and that is
the focus of this paper.... [Further
Information]
Implementation Plan
The Rural White Paper Implementation Plan was first published in March
2001, to set out the action on implementation and delivery of each of
the measures announced in the White Paper, 'Our Countryside: the future,
a fair deal for rural England'.... [Further
Information]
Rural White Paper Review
Run in parallel with Lord Haskins' Rural Delivery Review, the Rural
White Paper review was commissioned to assess progress on the 2000 Rural
White Paper, see whether objectives needed refreshing in the light of
wider changes to the Government's agenda, and look for ways to accelerate
delivery. The Review has found some major successes from the original
White Paper and was used to develop the Government's Rural Strategy
for the next 3 to 5 years.
 Rural
Services Review
The new style Rural Services Review incorporates the ideals of the rural
services standards but shows how national standards are being taken forward
at the level of the individual or local area... [Further
information]
Rural Evidence Base
Defra places high value on clear and compelling analysis in order to develop
effective policies. As part of this, we have a substantial rural research
programme which is helping to build the necessary evidence base, including
up-to-date data and research findings on rural trends. [Further
information]
Broadband
Improving broadband access across the whole of the UK, especially in
rural areas, is one of the Government’s top priorities. In the last
2 years there has been enormous progress towards providing access to affordable
broadband to every community in England from a competitive market. [Further
information]
Village Halls and community buildings
Village halls and community buildings undoubtedly have a vital role to
play in village life. The Government fully understands how important community
facilities are to creating vibrant and cohesive communities.... [Further
information]
Rural Voluntary and Community Sector
Defra is working on a joint programme with the Active Community Unit
in the Home Office that recognises the rural dimension of support for
voluntary and community sector infrastructure... [Further
information]
Defra and the Compact
Defra is strongly committed to creating a framework in which the voluntary
and community sector can flourish, be strong and independent. We use the
Compact as the basis for effective partnership working with the sector
and to underline our respect for its independence. We recognise the contribution
voluntary and community organisations make to developing and delivering
our policies, to service delivery, to strengthening rural communities
and to achieving sustainable development. [Further
information]
Rural Stress Action Plan
Applications are invited for funding under the fifth Defra Rural Stress
Action Plan which is being co-ordinated jointly by Defra and the Rural
Stress Information Network (RSIN) on behalf of the Rural Stress Action
Plan Working Group (RSAP)... [Further
information]
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