Defra rural report pledges to put countryside communities first

Defra has pledged to put rural communities “at the centre of decision-making” in its Future of Rural England report, published on 16 July, which commits every government department to consider the countryside’s needs when policy is designed. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) welcomed the report but said the test now is turning its recommendations into action.

What does the Future of Rural England report say?

Introducing the report, environment secretary Emma Reynolds called rural communities “the backbone of the UK – integral to our cultural identity, our economy, and our future prosperity”. She said government’s approach to rural proofing had for too long looked backwards, and that the report “seeks to change that: taking a proactive approach and placing rural communities at the centre of decision-making”.

The report puts the rural economy’s contribution at more than £259bn in England in 2023, spread across 9.7 million people, more than half a million small and medium-sized businesses and around 85% of England’s land mass. It concedes that rural productivity sits at 82% of the England average excluding London, with the gap widening, that the rural fuel poverty gap is more than double the urban figure, and that only 66% of rural homes can access gigabit-capable broadband against 89% nationally.

Commitments include a cross-government board to review how well departments are rural proofing policy, new rural metrics to measure progress, and rural affairs written into the devolution framework as a statutory area of competence for new mayoral authorities.

What does it mean for rural crime?

Wildlife offences, including hare coursing, are named among the priority rural crimes alongside the theft of agricultural equipment, machinery, fuel and livestock. The report acknowledges that illegal hunting is difficult to prosecute and that hare coursers are “known to intimidate people, damage farmland and frighten residents”.

Under the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act, forensic marking will be required on all new quad bikes, ATVs and removable GPS units, which will also need registering on a property marking database; the secondary legislation needed to bring the Act into force will be introduced “when parliamentary time allows”. The Crime and Policing Bill, expected to gain Royal Assent this year, will give police a new power to enter and search premises where stolen machinery has been tracked by GPS and a warrant cannot practicably be obtained.

Quad bikes, ATVs and GPS kit are everyday working tools on shoots and estates as well as farms.

How has the countryside responded?

CLA deputy president Joe Evans said: “The CLA welcomes today’s Future of Rural England report and its focus on embedding rural proofing across government. Only through a joined-up approach, with departments working together, can the full potential of the rural economy be unlocked.

“The challenge now is turning these recommendations into action. That means delivering affordable rural housing, improving digital connectivity and transforming our approach to planning so that it becomes an enabler, as opposed to a blocker.

“As devolution is rolled out, government must also ensure rural communities are not left behind. Getting this right is fundamental to closing the productivity gap, unlocking billions of pounds of economic growth and creating a thriving countryside.”

What happens next?

Defra says rural proofing will be reported on annually, with the cross-government board and new rural metrics to be established. A consultation response on planning reform is due in the summer, the equipment theft regulations await parliamentary time, and a consultation on conditional cautions for fly-tippers is promised soon. The full report is on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-rural-england-report.