Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007 - 2013

News update - Rural Development Programme for England – 2007 - 2013

Defra’s Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced on 6 December 2007 that the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2007 – 2013 had been approved by the European Commission. This will allow for full implementation of the programme early in 2008, once the legal process is complete.

emda has management responsibility for £60 million of the RDPE budget in the East Midlands. A regional launch will take place in January 2008, after which full details on how to apply for funding, eligible activity and application forms will be available at www.emda.org.uk/rdpe

For full details on the national announcement, and an updated question and answer brief, please visit www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/index.htm

For information on changes to Environmental Stewardship, please visit Natural England's website at www.naturalengland.org.uk

If you require any additional information please contact the RDPE Team on 0115 947 1797.

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a new programme to support social and economic development in rural areas.
RDPE will run from 2007 to 2013 and will be managed by emda.

We are working with Natural England, the Forestry Commission, and other regional partners (including the NFU and CLA), to develop the strategy for future investment.
RDPE will focus on ‘Competitiveness, Collaboration and Diversification’ and will include support for:

Co-operation in the development of new products, processes and technologies
Improving infrastructure and adding value to agricultural/forestry products
Investment in renewable energy technologies
Resource use efficiency
Diversification into alternative or non-agricultural activities.

The majority of investment will benefit land based businesses (eg farming). Fewer but more significant and strategic investments are planned (in comparison to the old ERDP) and we intend to actively encourage groups of producers or farmer controlled businesses to suggest collaborative projects. The funds will be available for investments anywhere in the East Midlands region.

Consultations also suggest there are gaps in current vocational skills provision in the sector, and emda is keen to see these addressed through the new programme. To meet this need, an element of RDPE funding will be spent specifically on ‘skills development for land based businesses across the East Midlands’.
The launch of the programme has experienced a delay due to ongoing discussions between Defra and the European Commission on the funding package. Plans are in place to make sure that farmers know what is available once the programme has been approved.

To read the draft Regional Implementation Plan click HERE

LEADER – £12 million scheme to improve rural communities

To find out more and how to apply click HERE

Details of new arrangements, as soon as they are available, will be published on this website.
If you have a project in mind or you have any queries regarding the scheme, contact the RDPE Team at emda on 0115 947 1797.

Useful links

Natural England
The responsibility for the delivery of the Agri-environment schemes is now the responsibility of Natural England – a new agency incorporating the Rural Development Service, English Nature, and elements of the Countryside Agency.

For information regarding the Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Environmental Stewardship schemes please contact Natural England at eastmidlands@naturalengland.org.uk or 0115 929 1191.
Defra
Forestry Commission
Government Office for the East Midlands

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