Rural Powerhouse: CLA campaign secures £110m for rural businesses
UK Government ‘finally showing some ambition’ for countryside – CLA
The UK Government has announced a set of measures designed to boost the rural economy in England following extensive lobbying from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
DEFRA’s Delivering for Rural England report, which includes £110m of funding to boost economic activity in the countryside, is a major success for the CLA’s Rural Powerhouse campaign.
The CLA’s campaign has become increasingly influential over the UK Government’s rural policy-making through 2022, particularly following the launch of a major report into the rural economy earlier this year.
DEFRA’s policy changes were published in the final days of Boris Johnson’s premiership, but are expected to be enacted by the new Prime Minister regardless.
The changes include:
- Ringfencing of rural productivity funding through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) worth £110m. Funding will be available for a wide range of activities, including converting buildings for business use, supporting diversification projects and delivering digital infrastructure
- Streamlining the process to convert disused agricultural buildings into housing in designated areas
- A commitment to ensure the needs of the rural economy are reflected in the levelling up agenda
“In the midst of an economic crisis, we need a robust and ambitious plan to create economic growth in the countryside. The UK Government has today taken its first steps towards delivering it.”
Responding to DEFRA’s Delivering for Rural England report, Country Land and Business Association President Mark Tufnell said:
“Finally the UK Government is showing some ambition for the countryside. Improving productivity in the rural economy could add up to £43bn in GVA – so this fund is money well spent
“We now need to see the true detail. Rural business owners are working hard to succeed, determined to create prosperity across our communities. But we need this report to deliver genuine planning reform, full connectivity and a cross-departmental policy framework from government that reflects the sheer potential of the rural economy.
“In the midst of an economic crisis, we need a robust and ambitious plan to create economic growth in the countryside. The UK Government has today taken its first steps towards delivering it.”
DEFRA’s report has heavily been influenced by a report published earlier this year by the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Rural Powerhouse, supported by the Country Land and Business Association, entitled ‘Levelling Up the rural economy’. The report followed a year-long inquiry that took evidence from over 50 organisations representing the rural economy.
