Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) – Update for the East - December 2023

The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is the successor to LEADER and RDPE Growth Fund and is a two-year capital grants scheme for rural businesses and communities which is being delivered and administered by local authorities that have been allocated funding. Its purpose is to support rural businesses diversify and to develop new products and facilities that will benefit the wider local economy. As well as providing support for new and improved community infrastructure, which will provide essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy.

The criteria for which types of rural projects will be eligible are decided by the respective local authority, so it will be different for each local area. The CLA East team has been engaging with the eligible authorities across the region, as well as with Defra, in an attempt to ensure funding is appropriately allocated and our members are kept informed.

We believe some of the grant limits and proposed projects being supported are inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the fund and are in discussion with relevant authorities over those.

There is currently a mixed picture across the region, with some funds already having closed applications for 2023 and others still to open their schemes in the autumn and publish further information.

The document below contains a summary table which indicates the status of the fund in various local authorities, with available links to a website for further information for that particular authority.

If you need advice, please call the team on 01638 590429