Supporting Rural Growth

Louise Driver, Rural Partnership ManagerIvan Annibal, Rose Regeneration

•Rural Economy Overview•LRP Priority Actions•Rural Economy Planning Toolkit•Discussion

Strengths / Opportunities

•Central location (95% UK pop: 4hrs drive from Luttw’th)•Third of counties businesses are in rural areas•GVA higher than other Shires•Key tourism attractions (tourism worth £872m in 2010)

– opportunity to grow overnight stays– develop links with other sectors

•Food & Drink brand esp. Melton (54% of manufacturing jobs)– Opportunities for new starts– Knowledge transfer

•Strong and diversifying land based sector / rural estates•KBIs (lower than national avg @ 15% vs 19.4%)

– Harborough Innovation centre

•Relatively high skill levels– Mismatch of supply / demand, out-commuting

Barriers to Growth

• Broadband connectivity• Lack of ‘fit 4 purpose’ & managed / incubator

workspace• Sector specific support

– Networking & knowledge transfer creativity & innovation

– Skilled workforce in certain sectors

• Local planning policies incl. highways• Regulation and legislation affecting start-ups /

diversification• Affordable housing / transport / opportunities for

young people

2012-2014: Proposed Priority

Actions 1. Play a leading role in delivery of the

Leicestershire F&D Strategy (on behalf of the LLEP)

2. Champion the adoption of a tourism strategy for L&L – delivery mechanisms

3. Establish a network to improve the management and coordination of workspace and incubator units across rural areas

4. Manage rural business grants to support the growth of priority sectors and farm diversification

2012-2014: Proposed Priority Actions

5. Promote and support business take-up of RDPE funds in priority sectors

6. Engage with and influence other partners to ensure vocational training meets the needs of rural businesses

7. Disseminate and embed use of the Rural Economy Planning Toolkit ……………………

Rationale

Ecotec Study 2009 for LRP

“businesses strongly felt that their growth, diversification and being able to implement

cost-effective, greener and efficient practises were being hindered by planning

departments.”

Conceptualising the Challenge

• Ensuring maximum flexibility around the growth and expansion of existing rural businesses

• Supporting the establishment of new enterprises in priority sectors

• Enabling opportunities for the development of new enterprises which arise as part of farm or estate diversification activities

• Supporting applications which strengthen existing clusters of businesses in specific sectors, or businesses involved in related supply chain operations

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Rural Economic Development Planning Toolkit – Accompanying Note

This document explains how to use the toolkit in greater detail and sets out some of the broader context relevant to the development of the toolkit. Its sections are:

•Instructions – Using the Toolkit•Economic Development Context •The Emerging National Framework for Planning and Development•The assessment of planning applications for rural economic development: designated sites and key issues for Leicestershire authorities•What makes a good rural economic development planning proposal?•Case Studies

Discussion