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Country Information

United Kingdom

Management of Rural Development

The management of Rural Development is a devolved area of policy in the UK. In Scotland it is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive; Iin Wales it is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government; Iin Northern Ireland it is the responsibility of the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARDNI); and in England it is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The National Strategy Plan (NSP) sets out the strategy for the UK as a whole and draws together common elements in the way it will be implemented within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the period 2007 - 2013. The document provides separate strategies for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to be implemented through four individual Rural Development Programmes (RDPs). These Rural Development Programmes aim to reflect the diversity of economic, social and environmental conditions in the different parts of the UK.

Summary of rural development policy objectives

The UK strategic policy objectives for rural development aim to:

Promote, encourage and reinforce competitive and sustainable agricultural and forestry management;
Work within the demographic trends in rural areas to promote a thriving, socially inclusive and diversified rural economy, with high quality employment opportunities;
Contribute further to EU strategic objectives for the environment, in particular through increasing biodiversity, reducing water, soil and air pollution, and meeting the challenge of climate change.

The main emphasis of the UK programmes is on axis 2, with particular focus on agri-environment schemes and other Axis 2 measures. To this end, the UK programmes have a strong focus on delivering the environmental objectives that have also been highlighted under the "new challenges" as part of the Health Check.

Relevant documents

National Strategy Plan (NSP): https://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/rdpe/ukstrategy.pdf

RDPs by country:
England: https://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/progdoc.htm
Wales: https://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/ruraldevelopment/archiveruraldevplan20072013vtwo/rdparchivev2/?lang=en
Scotland: https://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/05/05134234/0
Northern Ireland: https://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/rural-development/nirdp2007-2013.htm
Rural Development programme summaries: To see the detailed RDP fiches for each programme please click here.

Relevant organisations

National Rural Network (NRN): https://www.uknationalruralnetwork.org.uk/

England
- National Authority: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): www.defra.gov.uk/
- Managing Authority: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): www.defra.gov.uk/
- Paying Agency: www.rpa.gov.uk
- Certifying Body - National Audit Office (NAO): www.nao.org.uk/
- England Rural Network: https://www.rdpenetwork.org.uk/

Wales
- Managing Authority and Paying Agency: Welsh Assembly Government: https://wales.gov.uk/
- Certifying Body - Wales Audit Office: www.wao.gov.uk/
- Welsh Rural Network: www.wales.gov.uk/ruralnetwork

Scotland
- Managing Authority and Paying Agency: Scottish Executive: www.scotland.gov.uk
- Certifying Body - National Audit Office (NAO): www.nao.org.uk/
- Scotland Rural Network: https://www.ruralgateway.org.uk/

Northern Ireland
- Managing Authority and Paying Agency: Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARDNI): www.dardni.gov.uk
- Certifying Body - Northern Ireland Audit Office: www.niauditoffice.gov.uk/
- Northern Ireland Rural Network: https://www.ruralnetworkni.org.uk/opencontent/default.asp?itemid=1