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Environment
ENGLAND'S National Parks are worth as much as the UK aerospace industry to the economy, says a report. National parks are thriving rural economies as well as iconic landscapes and part of the national identity, says the study....
Changes to planning rules will make it easier to bring redundant rural buildings back into use. A relaxation of planning rules will allow the use of outbuildings to be changed under permitted development rights. Ministers have announced...
CHEAPER energy bills could be offered to rural communities that agree to local shale-gas extraction. Fracking involves forcing shale-gas out of the ground by blasting water into rocks. But environmentalists say the practice can cause earth tremors and...
RESIDENTS have voted a resounding 'yes' in the UK's first neighbourhood plan referendum. The historic referendum was held in the Upper Eden area of Cumbria on Thursday (7 March). Residents were asked whether they wanted Eden District...
A £2.3bn government investment in flood defences continues to discriminate against rural areas, business leaders have warned. The government says it now expects to protect 165,000 homes and businesses from flooding by 2015 – exceeding its previous goal...
PROPOSALS to ease planning rules will put the countryside at risk, say conservationists. Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced a wide-ranging loosening of planning controls on Friday (25 January). These include removing the need to...
RURAL business leaders are urging councils not to cut back on repairs to roads damaged by freezing temperatures. With councils already facing severe budget cuts, business leaders said minor roads provided a vital lifeline for rural businesses and...
RURAL insurer NFU Mutual faces a bill of up to £20m following floods across the Midlands, south-west England and Wales. Chief claims manager Matthew Scott said the company was dealing with more than 500 claims from policyholders whose...
RURAL businesses are calling for a planning system that is less costly and bureaucratic to encourage growth in the countryside. Harry Cotterell, president of the Country Land and Business Association, made the call to MPs on the Growth...
LOCAL councils should avoid creating 'buffer zones' around villages to stop wind turbines blighting communities, says a report. Renewable energy experts Regen SW set out the evidence on wind turbines in a special report published on Thursday (8...
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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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