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The Government has published the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (IoD 2025) – the seventh update of England’s official measure of multiple deprivation – alongside, for the first time, a dedicated report on deprivation in rural areas. ...
Thousands of passengers could benefit from more reliable bus services after the Government’s Bus Services Act became law on 27 October 2025. The legislation gives councils new powers to protect vital routes, create their own local bus companies...
Local authorities are struggling to balance their legal duty to provide transport for eligible pupils and the duty to balance their budget, says the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO’s latest report examines the reasons...
New research from Plunkett UK reveals that rural community-owned businesses are already delivering social, economic and environmental benefits that align directly with government ambitions – yet they remain under-recognised and under-supported in doing so. Plunkett’s annual...
The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has published a new report, Delivering 1.5 million new homes: Land Value Capture , examining how reforms to developer contributions could support the delivery of affordable homes...
RABI has unveiled its 2025–2030 strategy, setting out a clear direction to close the wellbeing gap experienced by farming communities. The plan focuses on prevention, improving access to support, and strengthening community resilience, building on evidence from The...
The Lion at Ickleton, near Saffron Walden, Cambridgeshire, has opened a community café to provide a safe space to help people connect and socialise. The pub, which was reopened in June 2025 after members of the local community raised...
TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2025 Oral Questions: Treasury Westminster Hall Debate: Royal Mail and the universal service obligation, Sir Ashley Fox MP Westminster Hall Debate: Cross-border healthcare, David Chadwick MP ...
Following reports in The Times that proposed changes to council funding allocations have been watered down after lobbying from London boroughs, the Rural Services Network (RSN) is urging government to ensure that rural areas are not left behind...
New research commissioned by Health Equals has revealed that 15 million people in the UK live in homes with issues like damp, mould or cold. Those from low-income households, renters and the West Midlands and Yorkshire and...
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HOT TOPICS
Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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