Policy papers and consultations

The government's response to the recommendations of the independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 11 April 2024

• Government response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor: full report

  Ministerial foreword Since joining Defra I have listened to and learnt…

• Government response to the independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor: by recommendation

  Introduction In April 2023, Defra ministers commissioned the Dartmoor…

Third rural proofing report setting out how the government supports rural business and communities.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 18 March 2024

• Delivering rural opportunity: third report on rural proofing

  © Eduardo Fonseca Arraes via Moment/Getty Images Foreword The government…

Seeking views on how we can best protect hedgerows and the wildlife they support through English law.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 4 March 2024

Practical guidance for policy makers and analysts in government to assess and take into account the effects of policies on rural areas.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 2 December 2022

Formal programme document setting out, in detail, what the Rural Development Programme for England will achieve.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 30 September 2022

The second report on rural proofing.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 3 September 2022

Outcomes from the world leaders summit on 'Action on forests and land use' on 2 November 2021.

• From: Cabinet Office and 5 others
• Updated: 18 July 2022

An integrated plan for the management, protection and restoration of our upland and lowland peatlands, so that they deliver benefits for nature and the climate.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 18 May 2021

Setting out how the government supports rural business and communities through rural proofing.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 26 March 2021

Seeking views on plans to introduce legislation for conservation covenants in England, allowing landowners to secure lasting conservation benefits.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 23 July 2019

We’re asking for information to inform our review into making sure our national parks and AONBs in England are fit for the 21st century.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 1 March 2019

Natural England is seeking views on using its byelaw-making powers to protect SSSIs from damage or deterioration.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 27 June 2018

We invite views, especially from farmers and other rural businesses, about their experiences of the planning system in rural areas.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 7 February 2017

Government’s response to the review of rural proofing implementation carried out by an independent team led by Lord Cameron of Dillington.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 17 December 2015

Rural productivity plan: government action for strengthening productivity in England’s rural areas.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 20 August 2015

How we're making sure government policies benefit people in the country by 'rural proofing' policies and programmes and developing networks.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 8 May 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

How the government helps rural businesses.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 8 May 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Setting out how government policy is supporting trends in the rural economy to enhance economic prospects.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 27 December 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The programme document set out, in detail, what Defra did under the Rural Development Programme for England 2007 to 2013.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 4 September 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

We are seeking views on the impacts on the environment of the proposed new Rural Development Programme in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 June 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government