The four areas of priority are:
- Growing the rural economy including jobs and skills
- Connectivity including digital and transport access
- Access to affordable homes and resilient energy supply
- Communities where people want to work and live while addressing health and social care and rural crime
Read more about the government's plans for unleashing rural opportunity:
Further detail will be announced in due course, but there were some positive take aways and NFU wins announced in a number of areas.
Digital connectivity
The announcement of a 拢7 million investment into alternative broadband solutions including satellite and fixed wireless is extremely welcome as the NFU has been campaigning for rural specific broadband solutions to be made a priority.
The fund will trial rural case studies of bringing together different broadband solutions (including satellite and fixed wireless) in particular for agriculture use cases. This will be vital in delivering broadband solutions for all farming businesses and not just those that are able to access fibre connections.
While not the significant investment needed to deliver better connectivity in rural areas, this is a positive step in the right direction, and we look forward to more detail on the fund and trials.
We are also pleased to see a consultation being launched later this year on improving broadband in very hard to reach areas, as many farming businesses would fall into this category.
Fly-tipping
皇家华人support the increase of fines for fly tipping from 拢400 to 拢1,000 as outlined in the , and welcome the introduction of regulations to make it enforceable.
Ringfencing the use of these fines to support tackling fly-tipping is something we would broadly support 鈥� although we would welcome further clarification on how this revenue may be used to have the greatest impact in reducing fly-tipping.
A new funded role within the National Rural Crime Unit to tackle fly-tipping is similarly welcome. 皇家华人believes it is important to have a role with a specific focus that can bring together the currently disjointed approach to enforcement in this area of waste crime.
Rural crime
皇家华人has been working with Greg Smith MP on the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill since summer 2022. We welcome government support to the Bill aimed at making agricultural equipment, machinery, and plant very much less attractive to steal.
皇家华人has been calling for a consistent and coordinated approach to rural crime for over five years and welcome the new National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) as a positive response from the National Police Chiefs鈥� Council.
皇家华人hosted the NRCU and representatives from 40 police forces on 5 June and the unit鈥檚 ambition is impressive.
The government funding, alongside already agreed funding from NFU Mutual, will support a coordinated approach to criminal activity impacting farm businesses, including agricultural vehicle theft, livestock theft and fly-tipping.
Energy
皇家华人is pleased to see recognition that 鈥渇armers and land managers have a key role to play in helping the UK achieve net zero.鈥�
We welcome Defra's commitment on electricity infrastructure that specifically mentions electrification of heating and EV charging, but we are keen to see further detail to ensure that it is a complete and workable solution for rural communities and farming businesses.
We would like to see such support extended to on-site renewable generation with the possibility also of exporting energy into the local community.
We look forward to reading the Connected Actions Plan that Defra will publish jointly with Ofgem this summer on accelerating electricity network connections by releasing network capacity and improving the connection process.
Transport
The detail of the Future of Transport Rural Strategy will set out principles to improving access to services. 皇家华人fed into the strategy last year.
Rural communities should not be left without decent access to transport, or the vital services offered in larger villages and towns.
The report highlights that 19% of households in rural areas do not have access to a GP office within 30 minutes by public transport or walking. This must be addressed in order to successfully level up rural communities and make them vibrant places to work and live.
Planning
The plans to launch a consultation on possible changes to permitted development rights which support agricultural development and rural diversification is welcome, as it can cut the red tape around planning.
The move to expand the ability of barn conversions to homes will help towards managing the rural housing crisis, whilst simultaneously adding a further diversification option for farmers. We also welcome a consultation on expanding permitted development rights for agricultural building expansion.
Rural Housing Enablers also seem promising as a body of dedicated local experts which could help those wanting to use land for housing, increasing confidence in the planning system. We look forward to seeing further detail of these plans including the planning definition of a 鈥榬edundant鈥� agricultural building.聽
Abattoir support
We are pleased to see Defra committing to a new fund which will support smaller abattoirs improve productivity and enhance animal welfare.
Abattoirs are vital for farmers in selling their meat to local markets and customers, and support local supply chains including private kills.
We are now waiting on the eligibility criteria, and hope to see eligibility extended to small and medium sized abattoirs that provide such a crucial service to local livestock producers.