A countryside preservation charity has branded the UK government’s rural action plan to strengthen and grow the nation’s rural economy as ‘fundamentally flawed’ and calling for ‘genuine’ support and consultation.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) rural action plan aims to see greater access to wireless broadband services across remote parts of the country, including the South West, and lists out plans to increase the availability of housing by, among other methods, making it easier for farmers to convert unused agricultural buildings into homes by cutting red tape.

But charity Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE) is calling for a better understanding for the countryside communities.

Commenting on Defra’s rural action plan, Roger Mortlock, CRPE chief executive, said: “Moves to properly understand rural deprivation are better late than never, but plans to make it easier for farmers to change their existing agricultural buildings into houses are fundamentally flawed unless they result in more affordable homes for local people. 

“After many years of funding cuts, it’s good to see extra support for rural housing enablers – who work alongside rural communities and landowners to get consent for decent, affordable homes in the countryside, helping ensure it has the backing of local people and fits into the surrounding area. 

“All rural communities are asking for is a fair share of the budget and for policies that show a genuine understanding of rural areas.

“While these initiatives are welcome, there’s still more to do to address the chronic underfunding of the countryside for over a decade.”

Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills adds: “Central government support for the rural economy is long overdue and we welcome any investment that genuinely supports rural businesses. 

“We hope DEFRA‘s rural action plan will help to deliver a more environmentally-sensitive solution to allow South West businesses to access faster broadband, rather than the recent rash of new applications we have seen in Devon to erect unsightly phone masts.

“Devon CPRE has long campaigned for the right sort of homes in the right places at prices that local people can afford. To strike the right balance in terms of meeting the need for new homes in rural areas, it‘s imperative that there’s genuine consultation with local communities. The last thing we need are more central government directives that take no account of local need here in Devon.”

Defra’s plan is to be delivered via £7million of funding from the government to ‘test out’ new ways to bring together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity, which will aim to help support farmers and tourism businesses to access faster and more reliable connectivity.

The government said these new approaches will also help rural businesses in trial areas make the most of new agricultural technologies by improving connectivity on their land, for example using new drone technology to monitor crops and livestock in real-time, support landscape and wildlife conservation efforts, or develop interactive experiences for tourists.

The fund is one of a broad range of steps the government said it is taking to boost rural communities on housing, transport, digital connectivity and jobs as set out in a new publication on June 6.

Called Unleashing Rural Opportunity, it states how the government intends to deliver Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ‘priority’ to grow the economy, creating ‘better-paid jobs and opportunity’ right across the country.

Rural areas already contribute 15 per cent to England’s economy, which amounts to over £250billion of the nation’s GDP, but the programme seeks to unlock further growth.

Rishi Sunak said: “I have pledged to build a better future for people in this country, and our rural communities are right at the heart of that promise.

“That’s why I’m determined to make sure that their interests are front and centre of all our work to grow the economy and strengthen our communities – so that every part of our country gets the support it needs to thrive.”

The government will also consult on making it easier for farmers to change their redundant agricultural buildings into family homes by ‘cutting red tape’.

Planning rules could be changed to provide a more generous threshold delivered through the more streamlined planning process while providing local authorities with new powers to safeguard against second homes and holiday lets.

Environment secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “The countryside makes up over 90 per cent of the UK’s land mass, it is home to millions of people and contributes over £250billion to our economy in England alone.

“Rural areas are rich in human and natural potential with strong communities and entrepreneurial businesses.

“This government is committed to making sure that the needs of people and businesses in rural areas are at the heart of policymaking. 

“We want to go further in unleashing that potential and support people in rural areas to build the sustainable future they want to see.

“Unleashing Rural Opportunity sets out what we have already delivered for rural communities and new initiatives to build on that record.”

DEFRA’s plan builds on its ‘rural proofing work’, whereby all government policy is examined to ensure it’s delivering for rural communities.

The next rural proofing report will be published later this year.