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The Final Local Government Finance Settlement is now confirmed. Our updated analysis examines the implications for rural areas. Read more.
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A new report from the National Audit Office examines government programmes designed to unlock land for housing and highlights the steps needed to ensure value for money as a new National Housing Delivery Fund (NHDF) is launched. Since 2016, the...
RSN Member Exclusive Seminar: Rural Connectivity Wednesday 25 February 2026 | 11:00–13:00 | Online Our next member-exclusive seminar will focus on Rural Connectivity, bringing together national policymakers, industry experts and local practitioners to explore how digital infrastructure, services and innovation...
Access to essential services in the UK is increasingly decided in the moment by something simple and unstable: having enough data to complete the task in front of you. Booking a GP appointment. Managing a welfare claim. Responding to a...
RSN members may wish to be aware of a new series of free-to-attend webinars being organised externally by the NHS - South West Region, the National Centre for Rural Health and Care, and PPL. The webinars are not organised by...
The Government has yesterday (9th February) published the Final Settlement for Local Government Finance ahead of the debate tomorrow in Parliament. You can find out more about the final settlement at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2026-2027-to-2028-2029 While we wait for the full...
The Association of Convenience Stores launched the 2026 Rural Shop Report, in Parliament last week. The report reveals that rural retailers have spent over a quarter of a billion pounds in the last year improving their range of products and...
A new report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has found that progress in improving the condition of social housing in England has largely stalled since the pandemic, despite the majority of social homes continuing to provide safe,...
Rural MPs from across the political spectrum used a Westminster Hall debate on 4 February to raise serious concerns about the reliability of postal services and the future of post offices in rural and remote communities. The debate was secured...
The government has published its National Cancer Plan for England, setting out a ten-year ambition to improve cancer survival, increase early diagnosis, modernise services and reduce longstanding inequalities in outcomes across the country. The Plan follows a series of recent...
Public Digital has published a new report exploring how local public services can move beyond crisis management towards more preventative, collaborative and user-centred models of delivery. Drawing on a Public Digital session held in November 2025, the report brings together...
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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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