The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)
The RDPE is open for business and ready to support farming, food and land based businesses. The programme is being managed by the South West Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) and delivered in partnership by Natural England and the Forestry Commission. The programme will provide financial support for a wide range of activities in rural areas including environmental stewardship, skills development, farming and forestry diversification, resource management, renewable energy supply chains and community-led development.
The RDPE is a seven-year programme, worth £3.9 billion nationally, jointly funded by the EU and national Government. It aims to safeguard and enhance our rural environment and foster competitive and sustainable businesses and thriving rural communities.
The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:
1. Improving 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.
The RDPE priority for improving the environment and the countryside is being delivered by the Forestry Commission and Natural England.
In this region, the South West RDA will deliver priorities 1and 3 with a budget of £156.8 million over the seven years. The Agency is also responsible for ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on enabling community involvement in rural development.
For further information, including how to access support:
South West of England Rural Development Gateway - Rural groups, organisations and businesses will be able to access the Programme through the http://www.sw-ruralgateway.info/default.aspx web portal. The portal is a joint development between the South West RDA, Natural England and the Forestry Commission and provides a single access point to all parts of the RDPE in the region.
The web portal includes a link to a Prospectus for South West England produced by the RDA, which sets out the support that will be available to rural businesses and communities as part of the RDPE in the region.
Click here to view the EU Commissions rural development page
The RDPE is a seven-year programme, worth £3.9 billion nationally, jointly funded by the EU and national Government. It aims to safeguard and enhance our rural environment and foster competitive and sustainable businesses and thriving rural communities.
The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:
1. Improving 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.
The RDPE priority for improving the environment and the countryside is being delivered by the Forestry Commission and Natural England.
In this region, the South West RDA will deliver priorities 1and 3 with a budget of £156.8 million over the seven years. The Agency is also responsible for ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on enabling community involvement in rural development.
For further information, including how to access support:
South West of England Rural Development Gateway - Rural groups, organisations and businesses will be able to access the Programme through the http://www.sw-ruralgateway.info/default.aspx web portal. The portal is a joint development between the South West RDA, Natural England and the Forestry Commission and provides a single access point to all parts of the RDPE in the region.
The web portal includes a link to a Prospectus for South West England produced by the RDA, which sets out the support that will be available to rural businesses and communities as part of the RDPE in the region.
Click here to view the EU Commissions rural development page
