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 (Gross Value Added) – so the £110m fund will be money well spent.

“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.

“We now need to see the true detail.  Rural business owners are working hard to succeed and are 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. These changes are needed to help the long term future of the rural economy.

DEFRA’s report has been heavily 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.”

NFU President Minette Batters said: “It’s encouraging to see concentrated efforts from the government to level up rural communities, especially the funding being made available through the Rural England Prosperity Fund to help the development and growth of rural businesses.

“It’s also promising that the government is looking at its levelling up goals through a rural lens and training civil servants on rural proofing. This will help ensure levelling up policies work for those living and working in rural areas, in turn, enabling rural communities to deliver even more when it comes to producing climate-friendly food, providing greater access to the iconic great British countryside and contributing to the national economy.

“We now need to see all government departments taking greater accountability for levelling up rural areas; policies around digital connectivity, tourism, transport and housing are just as important to rural communities as they are to urban ones. Alongside Defra’s work, a specific rural taskforce within the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities would help keep rural needs at the forefront of all levelling up policy-making, enabling rural areas to maximise the opportunities these policies are intended to provide.”