Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007 – 2013

Core RDPE

The majority of the RDPE funding will be delivered via emda direct to rural businesses. emda has grouped its RDPE funding into themes, based on the East Midlands regional priorities. The list of themes detailed below provides a guide as to what activities may be supported by RDPE in the region and offers some ideas about the types of activity which will be eligible for support.

Diversification

emda will support farm businesses wishing to restructure through the development of diversified activities that provide alternative income sources. Activity will increase the rate and level of innovation to increase business competitiveness.

Support under Diversification will only be available to members of a farming business. Applicants must demonstrate that they are currently earning an income from agricultural activity.

The definition of Diversification is quite broad and includes the following areas:

New products
New processes
New technologies
New markets
Retailing
Service industries
Self made products
Recreation
Creative industries
Environmental technologies and services, including traditional trades required to maintain and enhance the landscape
Renewable energy including the storage and supply of wood fuel

Renewable energy

Support is available for small scale renewable energy projects which may include:

Heating and power generation fuelled by biomass, solar, hydro or wind
Anaerobic Digestion

Adding value to agricultural, horticultural and forestry products

This theme will focus on:

Improved efficiency of production
Use of new technologies
New market opportunities
Improving crop storage to improve the quality of the product
Renewable energy

Cooperation for the development of new products

Support will be available for the agriculture, forestry and food sector to take advantage of market opportunities through innovative collaborative approaches in developing new products, processes and technologies. Eligible projects will include:

Cooperation between producers and processors
Promotion and sharing of good practice
Design and technology development.

Improving the economic value of forests

The objective of this theme is to:

Improve and broaden the economic value and potential of private forests
Increase diversification and production
Enhance market opportunities.

Project ideas could include:

Investment in forest infrastructure or machinery
Storage facilities and handling equipment
Production of renewable energy

Water resource management

This theme focuses on water resource management and will support the following types of project

Efficient water resource management
Development of winter storage reservoirs
Improvement of irrigation networks
Water catchment, harvesting, treatment and recycling on livestock, horticultural, and arable holdings

RDPE – More Information

Outlined above are six themes of activity which applicants are encouraged to consider when planning an RDPE project.

For further information on the East Midlands RDPE Themes and Measures; please see our Prospectus for funding in the East Midlands [File type: PDF, File size: 478 KB]

Examples of how RDPE support can benefit businesses throughout the East Midlands are also provided in our leaflet [File type: PDF, File size: 310 KB]. Copies are available from the RDPE Team.

The areas of activity which can be supported by RDPE are all taken from the Defra RDPE Programme Document. Each East Midlands RDPE theme has been selected by emda and the regional delivery partners from a ‘menu’ of Rural Development Measures. Each theme may relate to a number of Programme Measures.

For more detailed information on the RDPE Measures, please view the RDPE Programme Document on the Defra website.

State Aid regulations

RDPE is subject to State Aid regulations that ensure that state (public) funding does not distort competition. This means that businesses applying for RDPE support are limited to the amount of public funding they can receive.

Each area of RDPE activity is governed by different State Aid rules. State Aid guidance is available on the Defra website.

For further information on the State Aid rules for each of the East Midlands RDPE themes, please see the Prospectus for Funding in the East Midlands. [File type: PDF, File size: 478 KB]