RDPE

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a £3.7 billion seven year programme (2007-13), jointly funded by the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  Its aims are to safeguard and enhance the rural environment, improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and foster sustainable and thriving rural businesses and rural economies across England.

In the South-West the RDPE programme focuses on the following three priorities for rural development:

1. Improving the competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry sectors
2. Improving the environment and the countryside
3. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity

Priority 2 (improving the environment and countryside) is administered by the Forestry Commission via the English Woodland Grant Scheme and Natural England via the Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Following the Government’s announcement to abolish Regional Development Agencies in June 2010, DEFRA has now taken on direct responsibility for the delivery of all these aspects of the RDPE programme.

Click here for DEFRA website

Programme Documents
 
RDPE in the South West - The South West Regional Implementation Plan (SWRIP) sets out the principles and priorities for the RDPE in the region and how the Programme will be delivered: South West Regional Implementation Plan (Adobe pdf Document - 913kb) 
 
For a link to the European Commission: Agriculture and Rural Development website, please click here.