This was a supporting detail page of the main policy document.
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a funding programme under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a budget of £3.5 billion. The current programme runs from 2014 to 2020. It aims to support rural areas in ways that recognise the connection between agriculture and the environment. The objectives of the programme are:
to benefit many different aspects of rural life including improving the environment
helping make UK food and farming the best in the world
protecting against animal and plant disease
creating jobs and growing the rural economy
There are separate rural development programmes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The current programme has four elements which will progressively open during 2015. Find out more about rural grants and schemes currently available. Environmental schemes We will be spending £3.1 billion on environmental schemes. Around £900m will be available under the new Countryside Stewardship scheme. This is for farmers and land managers who voluntarily manage their land in ways that benefit the environment to meet local priorities. Around £2.1 billion will pay farmers and foresters who are already in environmental schemes from the previous programme. Countryside Productivity We’re spending £141 million helping the farming and forestry industry to become highly skilled. It will also help new farmers to start-up their business. We’ll be working with the industry to develop world class production and supply chains, collaborating to develop the sector using the latest technology and innovation. Growth Programme We will spend £177 million on the Growth Programme to help new and existing rural businesses. It’ll help get new rural businesses off the ground. It will also help existing businesses to develop new products and facilities like investing in broadband, renewable energy and promoting rural tourism. Local Enterprise Partnerships and local partners will help us decide how to spend funds in their area. LEADER We will give local communities the responsibility and resources to identify local needs and fund projects to meet them. £138 million will be available to LEADER groups. Local LEADER groups will decide how to spend funds in their area. At least 70% of funding will go directly on job creation and growth. The Rural Development Programme for England is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.