This blog has evolved from a book of the same name. Rurality is interpreted in many ways depending on individual encounters with rural space and this leads to different ways of conceiving the social and economic challenges that rural communities face. The blog represents the personal views of Professor Gary Bosworth, who is a Visiting Professor of Rural Entrepreneurship in Lincoln International Business School and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Northumbria University.
//The launch event for the network will take place at the University of Lincoln on 5th September. Keith Halfacree is delivering the keynote address and there are places available for other researchers to share their ideas and latest work. Please see the agenda attached and contact me if you would like to attend or present. Central England Rural Research Network
Gary (gbosworth@lincoln.ac.uk)
//I will be presenting a paper on Friday at this conference with a focus on the implications for rural businesses and rural economic policy. I suggest that rural entrepreneurs will see different opportunities based on their own attitudes towards their business environment. External factors such as the role of policy and consumer perceptions will also impact their business opportunities. By understanding the origins of these perceptions and the ways in which entrepreneurs relate to a rural identity, the paper will present key challenges and opportunities for both entrepreneurs and wider rural economic development.
In essence the question seems to be whether “rural” is a space in need of support for development or a space that relies on being outside of the core urban centres to facilitate creativity and diversification. Any thoughts or comments welcome.
//A wonderful blog on the issue of ethnicity and rurality: http://we-english.co.uk/blog/?p=930
//The new National Planning Policy Framework has stirred up a lot of controversy, especially among organisations claiming to represent the countryside. I have written before about the dangers of preserving green space at the cost of economic opportunities and I think the new framework offers real opportunities for local areas to take more control of local planning issues.
In its own words, the document “provides a framework within which local people and their accountable councils can produce their own distinctive local and neighbourhood plans, which reflect the needs and priorities of their communities.” This is the carrot, but if local and district councils fail to update their plans or communities do not engage in the process, the presumption in favour of development (sorry…sustainable development!) then kicks in.
Beyond the first couple of pages where the presumption in favour of sustainable development is set out along with the presumption in favour of planning decisions that reflect effective local plans, the remainder is largely guidelines for what local plans should include. In essence, not even 50 pages of “policy” but 10 pages of policy and 40 pages of guidance for those designing local plans.
With this guidance, the key message for the rural economy is on page 27 and states:
“Planning policies should support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable new development. To promote a strong rural economy, local and neighbourhood
plans should:
● support the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business and enterprise in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well designed new buildings;
● promote the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses;
● support sustainable rural tourism and leisure developments that benefit businesses in rural areas, communities and visitors, and which respect the character of the countryside. This should include supporting the provision and expansion of tourist and visitor facilities in appropriate locations where identified needs are not met by existing facilities in rural service centres; and
● promote the retention and development of local services and community facilities in villages, such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship.”
Does this reflect the features and qualities of rurality that we understand? Can rural communities achieve these goals through a local planning process or will the power of developers enable them to lay a greater claim to rural England? I guess only time will tell.
//A new paper in Regional Studies “Regions” magazine provides new evidence to show that farm diversification into tourism is aiding the resilience of farm households as well as contributing to a more sustainable local economy and local community. The key success stories came where farmers recognised ways in which they could “sell” local characteristics, turning the “rural” itself into a commodity, rather that it being a space just for the production of agricultural commodities.
Not all farmers have the same access to opportunities nor are they all as entrepreneurially-minded to recognise opportunities and the research indicates that better targeting of business support can extend the benefits of diversification to more farmers, and by implication, create more sustainable rural communities in remote parts of Wales.
This paper was written my Mandy Talbot who is studying for a PhD at Abersytwyth University. It was initially presented to the Rural Tourism Symposium held in September 2011 at the University of Lincoln.