Research and analysis

Statement of rural research priorities

Published 16 January 2019

Introduction

This Statement of Research Priorities provides a framework for research and evidence relating to rural economies and communities. It fulfils a commitment given by the government in its response to the report from the House of Lords committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act and provides a steer to government, academia and others for research to inform policy development for rural areas. It has been informed by engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including academics, rural organisations, Local Enterprise Partnerships and government departments.

The statement demonstrates how rural research covers a collection of themes covering diverse policy issues. The focus will evolve over time to reflect the current social, economic and political context.

Principles for future rural research

The framework aims to reflect the significant diversity of sectors based in rural areas, the variation of rural places and the range of issues raised as concerns by rural stakeholders.

Connectivity and access between places are increasingly important. Most rural areas have significant interdependencies with urban areas and are integrated within regional and national economies through dispersed supply chains and by commuter or remote working patterns.

Many policy issues are not unique to rural areas but circumstances in rural areas can be different. For example, raising productivity is a priority across the UK but poor accessibility and low density of population may act as additional barriers for growth in rural areas. Research needs to be able to identify the distinctive challenges in a rural setting and to demonstrate how policy can best address these to make rural communities and economies more resilient.

A systems based approach to research can be a useful tool for unpicking specific challenges in rural areas and identifying key interdependencies. It can help to explore the importance of underlying drivers of change and linkages between the economy, communities and environment. Systems will differ across rural places: the dynamics in the South East of England are not the same as those in the North West. A key component of the framework should be the development of new ways that rural areas can be classified or grouped together according to their key economic, social and environmental characteristics. These can enable more tailored policy responses and ensure cases studies can be developed with comparable circumstances from which to share experience and learn.

The diversity of rural places means the range of interdependencies can be complex and there is a lack of detailed data at local levels making it difficult to assess variation across rural areas. Innovative ways of developing evidence are therefore required.

All elements of the framework will need to take account of the opportunities and challenges to rural areas from the UK’s exit from the European Union.  

A framework for rural research

1. Defining dynamics and interdependencies in rural places

In building up expertise on rural places, it is important to consider the key drivers of change, opportunities for growth and social challenges. This may involve grouping rural areas according to their main characteristics to inform policy making. Specific research themes to address include:

• the interaction between social, economic and environmental drivers of change at a local spatial level and enterprise level
• new approaches to develop ways that rural areas can be grouped which capture links with other places (for example whether they are linked to urban economies) and the type of challenges they face
• evidence that draws on specific local development strategies and their effectiveness in promoting inclusive growth and welfare across rural areas

2. Digital and technology

New technology and digital connectivity has the potential to overcome many challenges in rural areas. It can provide new opportunities for entrepreneurialism, enable services to be delivered more efficiently, improve transport networks and foster stronger social and business networks. There remains much uncertainty about how to realise these benefits and minimise any disruptive impacts of new technology. Specific research themes to address include:

• the economic potential of improved digital connectivity and technology in rural areas including from driverless cars (e.g. Connected Autonomous Vehicles), drones and distributive manufacturing
• the potential of technology to help to overcome challenges of sparsity and a dispersed business base
• the influence and impact of digital connectivity on rural businesses and the provision of services across different sectors
• use of digital technologies in rural areas including how behaviours of residents, workers and consumers may change
• digital inclusion and ways to support all user groups to develop skills needed to participate in digital opportunities
• the impacts of digital and technology on other aspects of living in rural areas including house prices, education, well being, working and living patterns and local shops, recreation spaces and transport networks.

3. Environment

Natural capital in rural areas delivers a range of ecosystem services which support land based sectors and attract new residents, economic activities and visitors. A healthy environment is often a strong economic driver, but on occasion it can also constrain economic development through protective measures and policy (for example through planning restrictions). Research is required to explore these trade-offs in rural areas. Specific research themes to address include:

• the potential for using environmental ‘services’ to unlock new economic opportunities for rural areas which could help inform Local Industrial Strategies
• ongoing analysis of the impacts on rural communities of changes to environmental policy including the 25 Year Environment Plan and future Agriculture Policy
• the potential opportunities and risks on rural communities arising from environmental challenges including local flooding and drought arising from climate change

4. Housing

Between April 2010 and March 2017, 119,000 affordable homes were provided in rural local authorities in England. Affordability of housing remains a challenge for rural areas. More detailed evidence is needed on the areas where housing is an acute problem and the implications for the rural economy in these areas. Specific research themes to address include:

• a stocktake on affordable housing needs for different rural areas and identifying the shortfall and characteristics and causes of barriers to housing supply
• different delivery models to increase the supply of affordable housing
• opportunities to match housing to specific needs in rural areas, for instance by ensuring there is suitable housing for an ageing population or for young workers
• the wider consequences of any shortfall in housing provision including on demographic change and local service demand and provision such as schools

5. Demographic change

The demography in rural areas is changing. Since 2001 there has been a 37% increase in the rural population aged 65 and over which combined with a large exodus of younger age groups is leading to an increasingly aging society in many rural areas. There has also been a large inward migration of working age individuals to some rural areas from urban areas which has the potential to bring in new skills and entrepreneurialism. Greater evidence is needed on the drivers of demographic change and the implications for rural areas. Specific research themes to address include:

• the benefits of inward migration for rural communities in terms of skills, entrepreneurial leadership and social capital
• the relative importance of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors in explaining the outward migration of younger people and exploring how different social groups respond to these pressures
• the impact of outward migration of younger people on rural areas
• migration patterns of older people and the impact of an ageing population in rural areas, including how older people play an active role in the local community and the implications from increased demand on health and care services

6. Productivity and resilience of rural businesses

Productivity is slightly lower in rural areas than in urban areas (excluding London) and in sparse areas it is particularly low. Constraints on rural businesses can include relatively higher transport costs and lower access to skilled workers, markets, business support and finance compared with businesses in major conurbations. A greater understanding is needed of these challenges as well as how to support businesses and Local Enterprise Partnerships in raising productivity, wages and resilience of businesses in rural areas. Specific research themes to address include:

• design of economic development policies that best reflect the diversity and distinctiveness of rural businesses and the challenges they face
• opportunities for rural areas in respect of the Industrial Strategy’s Foundations and Grand Challenges (Artificial Intelligence and data, Ageing society, Clean growth, Future of mobility)
• constraints on economic growth across rural areas and the measures that offer the greatest value for money for policy makers in raising rural productivity
• challenges for recruiting and retaining staff in businesses, including organisations that deliver public services such as health and social care, and recruitment schemes designed to target ‘hard to recruit’ rural areas
• risks facing rural businesses which influence their short and long term resilience
• advantages and disadvantages of community-led development and policies to incentivise this approach
• different types of governance structures, whether centralised or devolved

7. Community and social capital

Rural communities are often described as having high levels of social capital, with strong community networks and other resources which facilitate collective action to address local challenges and opportunities. Community-led initiatives can cover among other things the development of local transport services, convenience stores/post offices, affordable housing and contact services for older people. Specific research themes to address include:

• the role of social capital in supporting the viability of rural communities and businesses, including why social capital matters and its limitations
• changes in community owned assets and the implications for community cohesion and the delivery of services
• different models for “Community led local development” and what measures can best support these projects to improve their impact
• the voice of rural communities at all levels and ways it might be improved
• ways to maximise the impact of community services and the voluntary sector to improve health and social outcomes in rural areas
• loneliness in rural areas and the extent to which this differs to urban areas, for instance in terms of access to appropriate support and networks

8. Accessibility to services

The evidence demonstrates that the cost of delivering services in rural areas is proportionately higher and major public funding formulas therefore often take account of sparsity and rurality. More evidence is needed on how accessibility to public and private services has changed in rural areas, the quality of services and opportunities from new cost effective delivery models. Specific research themes to address include:

• changes that have occurred in terms of accessibility to service facilities and the quality of services in recent years, and evaluating the impacts on rural communities and businesses
• the impacts of sparsity and distance on the provision of public services and the implications for long term outcomes
• changes in transport use (public & private) to support access and delivery of public services such as health and social care and education
• the resilience of public services in rural areas to changes in demography and funding levels
• challenges facing rural schools including those related to low pupil numbers, financial viability and geographical isolation, and identifying key policy measures to support rural schools
• different delivery models and technology and the ways they can improve services, making them more cost effective, accessible and personalised for rural communities

Next steps

This framework identifies priorities in terms of research that would inform policy development. It has been developed in response to a recommendation of the House of Lords report into the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. It sets an agenda for academia and research councils to develop research on rural communities that supports the development, implementation and evaluation of public policy. The framework of priorities will also be useful in informing research activities across government to build a more comprehensive evidence base on rural areas.

Much research has already been conducted and it is important that this is readily accessible to those who need it. We would be interested to hear how to improve the dissemination and accessibility of rural research to policy makers, practitioners, and rural communities, particularly recognising the importance of evidence informing other research. Limitations on the availability of data restricts the ability to evaluate rural issues robustly, particularly in tracking longer term trends. Defra invites views to review improving access to data, making better use of existing data sources, and enhancing existing data sources to ensure they provide rural insight.

The framework should help to direct local research and evidence activities and prompt more practical tools and guidance for rural research, for example for Local Enterprise Partnerships.

This framework is a living document that Defra will assess and revise on a regular basis. We welcome comments and feedback from rural researchers and stakeholders. Please email comments and feedback to: rural.communities@defra.gov.uk