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Rural Economies
A new policy framework from the Rural Services Network Every person, in every place, deserves the chance to thrive — including those living in rural, coastal and small-town communities. The Rural Services Network is proud to...
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has joined more than 40 leading housing, homelessness, and anti-poverty organisations in signing a joint letter to the UK Government urging action to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in the forthcoming Budget. The...
This week is Community Transport Week , a nationwide celebration of the extraordinary role that community transport plays in helping people stay connected. Across rural England, community transport schemes are a lifeline, providing journeys that enable residents to...
Community business charity Plunkett UK is delighted to announce a new three-year strategic partnership with the country's largest homebuilder, Barratt Redrow . The partnership between the two organisations is founded on a shared ambition to ensure...
New doctoral research is shedding light on how rural communities experience and respond to flooding and why their needs often differ from those of larger towns and cities. Dr Dan Jones, Data Analyst at the Rural Services Network has...
A new Mobile UK mini-report, Transforming Culture and Heritage in the Digital Age , explores how mobile connectivity, particularly 4G and 5G, is reshaping the UK’s culture and heritage sector. The report highlights that the sector,...
A new pamphlet, Rural Futures: The British Countryside and its Potential , has been published by the Fabian Society and The Countryside Charity (CPRE). Launched during the recent Labour Party Conference, it brings together contributions...
A network of independent advisors working to tackle England’s rural housing crisis has paved the way for potentially more than 2,000 affordable homes to be built across the country. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), in...
The Northern Powergrid Foundation is inviting applications for grants to help village groups and community organisations become more energy resilient. The deadline for applications is Sunday 13 October 2025. Grants are particularly focused on projects that install...
Rural households are being encouraged to take part in important new research from Rural England CIC , working with the University of Leicester , on how people in rural areas experience and manage their energy and water use....
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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.
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