The National Rural Conference 2025

Bookings are now officially open for the National Rural Conference 2025, which will take place online from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 September.
This is the Rural Services Network’s flagship event of the year, bringing together rural decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates for four days of live, interactive sessions focused on the future of rural communities.
Click here to book!

Lord Deben says street lights not needed in rural areas

The BBC reports that Lord Deben – chair of the Climate Change Committee – expressed to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee that urbanising rural areas is largely antagonistic to dealing with climate change.

He added that councils should not allow housing developments where residents would commute by car and that street lighting in rural areas was unnecessary. He reprimanded planning laws which were not conducive to net zero targets, demanding a review to align planning with climate goals.

Full article:

BBC News - Climate change: Lord Deben says street lights not needed in rural areas