Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, welcomes funding for rural businesses such as farms, wedding venues and pubs that will benefit from up to £110 million of Government funding being allocated to support countryside communities across England with North Devon Council set to receive £1.09 million.
The funding will be invested in projects which will boost productivity and create rural job opportunities. These could include farm businesses looking to diversify by opening a farm shop, wedding venue or tourism facilities or improvements to village halls, pubs and other rural hubs for community uses.
Investment will be based on local priorities and support investment in projects such as grants for:
- converting farm buildings to other business uses
- rural tourism, such as investments in visitor accommodation
- capital grants for provision of gigabit-capable digital infrastructure at hubs such as village halls, pubs and post offices for community use
- capital grants to develop, restore or refurbish local natural, cultural and heritage assets and sites.
- creation of new footpaths and cycle paths, particularly in areas of health need, or capital grants to enable people to develop volunteering and social action projects locally.
Lord Benyon, Minister for Rural Affairs, said:
“We are addressing the rural productivity gap, levelling-up opportunities and outcomes, and looking after the rural areas and countryside that so many of us are proud to call home.
“The Rural England Prosperity Fund worth up to £110 million recognises the unique strengths and challenges of rural communities, and will support them to invest and grow their economies in line with local priorities.”
Rural areas contribute hugely to the life of our nation economically, socially and culturally. 85% of England’s land mass is rural, rural areas are home to 9.6 million people (17% of England’s population) and the rural economy is worth £260 billion to the economy (15% of England’s output).
The ‘Delivering for Rural England’ report describes how rural interests will be at the heart of the government’s approach to levelling up to ensure the 12 levelling-up missions deliver for these communities.
The report summarises the considerable progress that has been made in supporting rural areas, for example in improving connectivity with 30% of rural premises now having access to gigabit-capable connections compared with 19% in January 2021.
The report sets out how the government is working to close the productivity gap for rural areas, which has fallen from 90% of the England average in 2001 to 83% in 2019. Funding announced today through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, together with the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Food Strategy and the Agricultural Transition Plan, is set to unlock billions of investment in rural communities over the coming years.
Selaine Saxby MP said:
“I welcome this funding that will help support and invigorate our rural economy. This government support comes on top of the £1.2 million share prosperity funding announced in April for North Devon and the £2.6 million allocated to Devon County Council last month for the Future Farming Resilience programme.
“When we talk about levelling up Rural Britain it is vital that local councils play a major part in identifying and prioritising beneficial schemes and I look forward to seeing further action.”
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Greg Clark MP said:
“This major investment in rural businesses will help us boost the countryside economy and close the rural productivity gap.
It’s our mission to spread opportunity across the whole of the UK and this funding will help us do just that.”
