T: 01822 851370 E: [email protected]
Government Policy 2025
The latest Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee session held on 7th May 2025, placed funding and sustainability of local government finance under close examination. Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon MP,...
The Government has announced a new round of funding to improve energy efficiency across public sector buildings, aiming to reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. Through the latest phase of the Public Sector Decarbonisation...
The Great British Energy Bill has successfully passed through Parliament, establishing a new publicly-owned energy company aimed at accelerating the country's transition to clean energy and enhancing energy security. Overview of the Legislation The Great British...
The Government has introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which sets out a package of proposed reforms aimed at speeding up the delivery of housing and critical infrastructure across England. These proposals are intended to streamline the planning system, unlock...
The Government has announced new powers for councils aimed at tackling the persistent problem of fly-tipping across England’s streets, lanes and rural areas. Under the latest measures, local authorities will be able to seize and destroy vehicles involved...
Newly released figures from DEFRA ’s Rural Economic Bulletin reveal a stark warning: productivity in England’s most sparsely populated rural areas has fallen to just 84% of the national average , down from 92% in 2001 ....
DEFRA has announced a boost to food security, with more than £45 million in new grants to drive and develop innovative technologies on farms. From 28 April , applications will open for the brand-new Accelerating Development of Practices...
The government has announced a package of reforms intended to address longstanding issues within the local audit system in England, which it describes as “broken” and “fragmented.” The reforms, outlined on 9 April 2025 by the ...
In communities across England, families in desperate need of affordable housing are now facing waits that stretch decades—often far beyond their children’s upbringing—for a family-sized (3+ bed) social home. Analysis released by the National Housing Federation ...
Last week, the government announced a new set of measures aimed at improving visibility, responsiveness, and trust in local policing. As part of the broader “ Plan for Change ”, the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee sets out a commitment...
NEWSLETTER
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
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.
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates.
Part of and working with:
