Support for the rural economy
Information about government support for growth and prosperity in rural areas.
How government supports rural communities and business: rural proofing
Rural areas are important economically and socially. Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of rural areas are considered in policy development and implementation.
Rural proofing is the process of assessing how government policy affects outcomes in rural areas. It enables government to adjust policies or delivery plans, when appropriate and practicable, to ensure rural areas are not overlooked and that intended outcomes are deliverable in rural areas.
Contact Defra’s rural policy team for further advice about rural proofing:
Delivery programme: funding for rural areas
Defra directly funds 2 rural delivery programmes to provide support for rural areas.
Rural economy
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) funds improvements to local infrastructure and essential services and helps businesses in rural areas to expand.
Rural communities
Funding for rural communities includes the Rural Community Assets Fund, which provides capital funding for the refurbishment and development of community-owned assets, such as village halls or community centres.
Statistical resources
The Rural Urban Classification is an official statistical classification for England and Wales based on settlement, used to distinguish rural and urban areas. It can be applied to a range of different geographies, ranging from census output areas to local authorities, to produce statistical analysis.
The Statistical Digest of Rural England is a compendium of socio-economic statistics providing comparisons between rural and urban areas, covering population, housing, health and wellbeing, communities and households, connectivity and accessibility, education, qualifications and training, rural economy, and energy.