Unleashing Rural Opportunity
Unleashing Rural Opportunity is the latest document released by DEFRA focussing on rural affairs. Recognising that the countryside is over 90% of the UK’s land mass, home to millions, and contributes over £250 billion to the English economy, it provides an overview of what the Government are doing to help rural businesses and communities thrive by combating the unique challenges they face.
Growing the Rural Economy
The document highlights the Rural England Prosperity Fund investing £110 million in projects related to farm diversification, community infrastructure and boosting rural tourism, and the extension of the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme which helps farmers in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty deliver projects that promote nature and encourage visitors. Export support packages will also help rural food producers take advantage of the growing global demand for British food and drink, while Skills Bootcamps and the Forestry Training Fund will help adults develop the rural skills they need. The document also announces plans to develop a fund to help rural abattoirs.
Digital Connectivity
To ensure that businesses and homes have the connectivity needed to fully participate in the economy and daily life, the Project Gigabit programme is investing £5 billion to rollout gigabit-capable broadband in areas not served by commercial suppliers’ plans, while the Shared Rural Network works to increase 4G mobile to 95% geographic coverage by the end of 2025. Funding has also been announced for a trial of rural mesh networks, which bring together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity, helping farmers and tourism businesses access lightning fast, reliable connectivity.
Transport
To help rural communities access transport that meets their needs, alongside considerable investment in local bus services, are infrastructure grants for small accommodation businesses and charities to support Electric Vehicle uptake.
Energy
To address the challenges of living off the gas grid and energy efficiency retrofitting in older rural houses:
- the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 will provide £378 million to fund energy efficiency and clean heating upgrades for low-income households,
- the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, now extended to 2028, will support households moving from fossil fuel heating systems to heat pumps, and
- the Great British Insulation Scheme will support households living in Council Tax bands A-D, with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D-G.
Rural Crime
While overall, crime levels tend to be lower in rural areas, there are unique challenges, including theft and vandalism of farm equipment, livestock worrying, equine crime, and fly tipping. A new National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) will support forces nationally in their response to all rural crimes, while the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill aims to crack down on high value agricultural machinery theft. Legislation to tackle livestock worrying is also promised making it easier for police to respond to incidents, while new regulations should be introduced by July to increase fly tipping penalties.
The full document can be found here >
For more information, please speak to a member of the Rural Professional team.
