Rural Economy

Rural Economy

Development of an economic nature in the countryside/rural areas has the potential to meet local needs and enable prosperous, sustainable communities. 

This includes the re-use and adaptation of existing rural-based buildings for businesses as well as the development of new ones.

 Businesses, services and crafting in rural areas often directly serve local communities and their development, diversification and expansion can help to support the wider local economy. 

Many businesses, such as those for agriculture and forestry, are also necessarily based in rural areas in order to have access to the land resource upon which they depend.

Agricultural policy has also changed considerably in the past few decades, and farm/agricultural land owners and owners of other land-based rural businesses are increasingly seeking to diversify their economic activities to make more profitable use of their land and buildings, thereby sustaining their businesses in the long-term.

There are also other types of business such as those for tourism, community use and recreation that may benefit from a countryside location and these should be encouraged where it would not be in conflict with other aims in the interest of supporting the rural economy. 

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