Rural proofing
16 Mar 2026
New Planning Measures Aimed at Accelerating Homes and Infrastructure
The government has announced a package of regulatory changes aimed at speeding up the delivery of housing, transport and clean energy projects, while maintaining environmental protections. New Strategic Policy Statements...
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27 May 2025
Real Rural Proofing Means Meaningful Change
The Government has published its latest update on rural proofing: The Government’s Approach to Rural Proofing 2025. It sets out examples of how departments have considered rural needs across areas...
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01 Jul 2024
NextGov: Key Asks from Rural Councils for the Next Government
In the lead-up to this week’s General Election, the future direction of rural policy is a topic of critical importance. Recently, our Chief Executive, Kerry Booth, contributed an insightful article...
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22 Apr 2024
Rural Lens Review on DEFRA’s Third Rural Proofing Report for 2024
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has conducted a thorough review of the DEFRA Third Rural Proofing Report for 2024, titled “Delivering Rural Opportunity.” Published in March 2024. As an advocate...
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30 Oct 2023
Levelling Up Bill receives Royal Assent: RSN Chief Executive reviews what will it mean for rural
Last week the much-anticipated Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill received Royal Assent. The expected game of Ping-Pong between Houses never occurred and most of the government’s changes to the Lord’s...
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23 Oct 2023
Rural amendments to Levelling Up Bill rejected
The government’s Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill returned to the House of Commons last week with the Lords’ amendments. These included Lords Amendment 6, proposed by Lord Foster of Bath:...
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17 Jul 2023
Levelling-Up Bill – Lords agree needs rural proofing
The Government’s Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill was discussed again in the House of Lords last week and this time the issue of rural featured heavily. In two amendments proposed by...
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10 Jul 2023
Rural Coalition urges Government not to ignore England’s 9.7 million rural voters
Rural England’s population of 9.7 million risk being left further behind after the next general election if the political system continues to ignore the systematic inequalities facing rural communities and...
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10 Jul 2023
Rural England’s 9.7 million risk being left further behind at general election
The Rural Coalition urges political parties to address rural challenges to gain ground among countryside voters 10 July 2023: Rural England’s population of 9.7 million risk being left further behind...
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27 Feb 2023
Rural Health Debate in House of Lords
On 23rd February 2023, the House of Lords considered the topic of Healthcare in Rural Areas as part of a short debate Proposed by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, the full...
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