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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!
Rural Net Zero
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...
A new report published by CPRE , titled Getting Solar Off the Ground , reveals that a significant proportion of England’s most productive farmland is now being used for large-scale solar energy generation. The research analyses the location...
Two senior Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) visited a major gas distribution facility in Bathgate to see how Scotland's liquified petroleum gas (LPG) industry is 'renewable ready' – demonstrating that existing energy infrastructure can seamlessly transition to support rural...
At last month’s comprehensive spending review – where the Labour government outlined its spending commitments for the next three years – the Chancellor committed over £10bn to its Warm Homes Plan, which will seek to help homes and businesses decarbonize....
Malcolm Farrow, head of public affairs at OFTEC With the expected publication of the Warm Homes Plan and the Chancellor's Budget, the return after the summer recess is going to be a decisive period for Labour. Despite...
Northern Powergrid is committed to support the growth of community energy in its region, coming at a time when the UK Government has set out how it plans to deliver on the ambitious target of delivering 8 GW of local...
Understanding the New RdSAP10 – What Rural Housing Providers Need to Know If you are involved in managing housing stock, planning retrofit projects, or working towards improving energy performance across rural homes, you need to be aware of...
The Rural Services Network has today published Delivering for All: A Roadmap for Rural Prosperity —a comprehensive new policy document setting out the case for fairer funding, smarter metrics, and targeted rural policy to ensure that every community can...
The Government has published its latest update on rural proofing: The Government’s Approach to Rural Proofing 2025 . It sets out examples of how departments have considered rural needs across areas such as housing, digital connectivity, transport and the...
DEFRA’s latest Statistical Digest of Rural England (May 2025) shines a spotlight on the ongoing issue of fuel poverty in rural areas, revealing the tough reality faced by many rural households. ...
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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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