North Yorkshire’s Rural Commission, the first of its kind nationally, has set far-reaching recommendations in a report published last week by North Yorkshire Council

The report calls for the levelling up of rural communities to transform the region into one that has more young people, a thriving rural economy, and is fully connected.

The issues the Commission has examined require positive behavioural change to allow rural and remote North Yorkshire to become a leader in the green economy, have beautiful living rural spaces, to be digitally connected, farm sustainably and have vibrant services.

In the report, the Commission advocates for the levelling up debate to not only to focus on Northern industrial regions, but also on remote and rural regions.

It says the debate must recognise the significant potential of rural and sparsely populated rural areas to contribute to the national economy, achieve net zero targets, and drive energy transitions.

The Commission argues that devolution is a priority for rural North Yorkshire, and that central Government must ensure additional powers and funding for the devolved authority so that it has real ability within the region for decision-making and control of significant funding.

The Commission examined seven key themes: rural economy; energy transition; digital connectivity; farming and land management; rural schools, education and training; rural housing; rural transport.

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North Yorkshire County Council - Rural Commission sets out radical actions for rural North Yorkshire