Institute bids to unlock countryside potential

Planning, 8 August 2008

The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) was set up to explore the state of rural areas and evaluate issues that affect the quality of the environment and the economic, social and cultural well-being of their population. The rural research centre is a partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and the University of the West of England and has a particular interest in the impact of policies on the countryside.

A range of projects examining agriculture and farm change have led to an understanding of the critical nature of a whole farm approach that integrates all activities, including economic and environmental issues. Farmers need to work together in networks to look at issues such as integrated pest management, nutrient planning, efficient fertiliser use and good soil management. The relocalisation of food is also important in terms of food quality and the local economy.

Most critical, however, is the need to tackle the declining skills base in agriculture. We are running out of people who know how to farm. Information and advice is required to restore confidence to the industry and to ensure that profitability and environmental objectives go hand in hand.

The institute has uncovered the value of historic rural farm buildings and offered clear strategies for appropriate reuse. The value of heritage and landscape in Britain's national parks has also been found to be considerable in terms of attracting tourism and employment and to offer significant multiplier effects. The challenge remains to get more people back into the countryside to reverse significant falls since the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The CCRI is also interested in the rural economy. The government's sub-national review places a responsibility on the regional development agencies to continue the pursuit of gross value added productivity, which naturally disposes them to investment in urban areas. At the same time, the review allows local authorities to measure their performance through economic well-being, suggesting a whole different set of performance criteria.

In addition, there are increasing calls from the community to pursue the economics of relocalisation through community finance, transition towns and community land trusts. The CCRI is committed to exploring these value systems to advise on appropriate economic development strategies for rural economies, particularly with the emphasis now given to sustainability.

The CCRI also carries out research into the impact of the planning system in rural areas. This has shown that current preoccupations with carbon emissions define sustainable development as undeniably urban. Minimising travel, increasing walking and cycling, maximising development densities and prioritising brownfield land all unduly disadvantage rural areas - the natural theatre for sustainable living.

The reform of planning policies covering housing, transport and the economy in rural areas is needed if they are not to ossify further. The "no development" ethic needs to be reassessed in the context of sustainable living.

Nigel Curry is director of the CCRI. For more information, please visit www.ccri.ac.uk.