Rural communities “let down and left behind” by successive governments, says mayor as action plan launched

Rural communities have been “let down and left behind” by governments of all parties, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said as regional leaders agreed a new plan to deliver 5,000 rural homes and boost the rural economy.

Members of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority unanimously backed the Rural Action Plan at a cabinet meeting in Northallerton this week.

The plan sets out ambitions to deliver at least 5,000 new rural homes, improve transport and digital connectivity and help more farms become financially sustainable by 2035.

Around 94 per cent of land in York and North Yorkshire is classed as rural, with communities facing higher living costs, older housing, poor mobile and broadband coverage and limited transport links.

The plan follows a report commissioned by Mayor David Skaith, which found that more than half of commercial farms in the region are economically unsustainable.

Among the targets included in the strategy are the delivery of affordable and community-led homes, alongside retrofit funding to improve older properties and reduce fuel poverty.

The Combined Authority also aims to grow the rural economy by 20 per cent through investment in sectors including food innovation, clean energy and the creative industries.

Support will also be provided to help more than half of farms become economically sustainable, including creating stronger links between farmers and public sector buyers such as schools and hospitals.

The strategy also commits to tackling digital and mobile phone blackspots, investing in transport to make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle, and strengthening measures to prevent rural crime.

Mayor Skaith told the meeting: “Rural communities have, I feel, been let down and left behind by successive governments of all parties, frankly —that would not be the case as long as I’m here.

“We’re supporting our farmers and we’re setting out a plan to be bold, ambitious plan for rural communities across the country.

“That means we have to be ambitious to build the homes that rural communities need to survive. We have to be ambitious about the job opportunities and we have to be ambitious about how we connect those communities to each other.”

The strategy builds on work undertaken through the North Yorkshire Rural Commission, established in 2019 to examine issues including housing, transport, education, employment and digital connectivity across the county.

North Yorkshire Council leader Councillor Carl Les said the authority had already demonstrated its commitment to rural communities through measures such as introducing a 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes to help free up housing for local people.

He added: “The work of the North Yorkshire Rural Commission was invaluable to provide an even greater insight into the issues faced by people living and working in the countryside.

“The new Rural Action Plan will build on this work, and we will work closely within the Combined Authority to bring lasting benefits to our countryside communities.”