Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007 – 2013
The Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007 – 2013 (RDP) is a European Union and Welsh Assembly Government funded programme to promote the development of rural areas. Its aim is to encourage and help rural communities to think about the longer term potential of their area.
The Rural Development Plan (RDP) provides a framework to:
- Strengthen our farming and forestry industries in Wales
- Safeguard and enhance our environment and rural heritage
- Foster competitive and sustainable businesses and thriving rural communities
The RDP has four axes and associated funding streams:
- Axis 1: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors
- Axis 2: Improving the environment and countryside, via farmers and landowners
- Axis 3: Improving the quality of life in rural areas and diversifying the rural economy
- Axis 4: Developing the LEADER approach (ie community involvement in improving and/or developing their communities)
Axes 1 and 2 are delivered by The Assembly Government, for more information click here.
Axis 3 helps to develop local infrastructure and human capital in rural areas to improve the conditions for growth and job creation in all sectors and the diversification of economic activities. Axis 3 will look to support activities such as:
Providing a broader range of better paid employment opportunities;
Helping to raise economic activity rates;
- Enhancing or providing additional mainstream services for the rural economy;
- Providing openings for future economic development, including tourism and craft activities;
- Improving the physical environment of villages and conserving the rural heritage;
- Addressing social exclusion by providing better links between urban and rural areas.
Axis 4 based on the Leader experience introduces possibilities for innovative governance through locally based bottom-up approaches to rural development. Axis 4 will look to support:
- Stakeholder partnership activity;
- Area identity and new product development;
- The natural environment;
- Sustainable rural services;
- Outdoor activities, tourism development and well-being.
