Real Rural Proofing Means Meaningful Change

The Government has published its latest update on rural proofing: The Government’s Approach to Rural Proofing 2025. It sets out examples of how departments have considered rural needs across areas such as housing, digital connectivity, transport and the environment. This is a welcome continuation of the principle that rural communities must not be left behind in national policy. But as ever, the true test lies in how far this principle is embedded in practice.

At the Rural Services Network, we’ve long championed the need for stronger rural proofing. The concept is simple: policy should work for all communities, not just those in urban centres. Yet in reality, too many national strategies are still designed with city-based assumptions—leading to unintended disadvantages for the 9.7 million people who live in rural England.

The latest government document offers encouraging signs of progress. There is clearly greater awareness in Whitehall of rural considerations, and some positive examples of rural thinking influencing policy. However, these case studies remain the exception rather than the rule. Rural proofing is still often applied too late in the policy process, if at all. The result is that challenges unique to rural areas—like sparse public transport, higher service delivery costs, and digital exclusion—are routinely overlooked.

When rural proofing is applied meaningfully and early, it can lead to better, fairer, and more effective policymaking. It highlights where one-size-fits-all approaches won’t work and encourages smarter, more targeted solutions. For example, understanding the true cost of service delivery in dispersed areas helps ensure rural councils aren’t unfairly underfunded. Recognising barriers like distance to services or poor mobile coverage can improve access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.

But to deliver real impact, rural proofing needs to become a standard part of government thinking rather than being a discretionary extra. That means moving beyond principles and into practical reform. Policies should be accompanied by clear rural impact assessments. Departments must be held accountable for how they’ve considered rural implications—not just that they have. Better data collection is also essential, particularly in identifying hidden deprivation in rural and coastal areas that can be masked by broad-brush statistics.

It’s vital that rural voices are included early in the policymaking process. Engaging with rural councils, community organisations, and service providers before policies are finalised ensures that challenges are properly understood—and that solutions are realistic and deliverable on the ground.

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network: "The Government’s update is an opportunity to take stock, but it also needs to be a springboard for renewed effort. Our members know where rural proofing works, and where it doesn’t. That lived experience must help shape what comes next. At the RSN, we will continue to push for rural proofing that is consistent, transparent, and genuinely impactful. We believe this is not just about fairness—it’s about designing better policy for everyone. And that starts with recognising that rural communities are an essential part of our national story and must be fully included in the decisions that shape our future".