Rural Development Policy in England

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Rural Development Policy in England

• John Mills
• Director of Rural Policy
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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(No Transcript)
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
IrelandEngland 54 of land area
84 of population 384 persons
per sq.km
London
100 km
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England rural/ urban land coverRural 87 of
land area 19 of population
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Rural/urban land cover
6
Workforce employed in Agriculture ()
7

Percentage of the 2001 population aged 65

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Average Household Income 2002 ()
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Main Rural Trends

• Agriculture only 0.8 of national economy but
  growing importance of farming in managing the
  environment
• Population shift from city to countryside ageing
  rural population
• Rural/urban convergence lifestyles, economic
  activity, population turnover
• Structural economic problems in areas where
  agriculture is of above-average economic
  importance

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Main Policy Responses

• Rural development strategy must be cross-sectoral
  and address economic, social and environmental
  issues equally
• Rural proofing mandatory in policy-making
  process
• Rural/urban equitable access to public services
• Strong rural evidence base
• Development led by regional and local authorities
• Intervention targeted on areas of greatest
  economic need
• Economic benefit of environmental protection
• Keeping rural on the agenda in an
  urban-dominated policy environment

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Objective Sustainable Rural Communities