Introduction and Overview
Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the most diverse English regions. In the south west, it is heavily urbanised and 75% of the region's population lives in the three cities of Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield. Conversely, to the north and east there is an extensive rural area which accounts for over 12% of England's agricultural land.
The region's rural environment is diverse and some parts are of very high quality, as reflected by a substantial level of environmental designations. The wide variety of habitats range from heather moorland in the uplands, and isolated areas of woodland, wetland and grassland in the lowlands, to sea cliffs and wide expanses of mudflats on the coast. Many of these areas are of national and international importance.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the region as a whole - particularly the rural parts of it - is its highly polarised character and the juxtaposition of extreme contrasts. For example, while 21% of the land area is a designated National Park (the highest proportion of any English region), there are extensive areas of degraded landscape in need of substantial rejuvenation following the impact of intensive farming (e.g. Vale of Pickering) and/or industrial activity (e.g. coalfield areas). Similarly, while there is a high incidence of second homes in rural areas (over half the housing stock in some parishes), there is also an absolute shortage of affordable homes and in some areas the condition of the housing stock is a major issue. The issues relating to housing and landscape are symptomatic of the wider processes that have led to environmental, economic and social polarisation within rural areas and, in this context, the Rural Development Plan has much to achieve.
In terms of specific rural development issues, there are important contrasts between the upland areas to the west and north, and the lower lying area to the east and south. Although crude, this basic split has helped to frame the chapter that follows and it is important to recognise the underlying contrasts. In the paragraphs that follow, we present an overview of these two sub-regions in turn.
The area to the west of the A1-M1 corridor is dominated in landscape terms by the Pennines, while further north, the North York Moors constitutes the principal upland area. Although much of this area is a designated National Park, there are serious environmental pressures and concerns: for instance, in the Yorkshire Dales, 36% of species-rich grassland was lost to agricultural intensification between 1985-91. Much of the land is of poor (or very poor) agricultural quality and a large proportion is designated as a Less Favoured Area. In land use terms, it is dominated by upland cattle and sheep rearing and such extensive farming systems are vital in terms of sustaining the landscape. But despite highly subsidised farm incomes, many of these farming businesses are running at a loss. Because of this, tourism has now assumed critical importance within the rural economy as a whole; many farms have diversified to provide some form of holiday accommodation, and rural sports (e.g. fishing) are growing apace. However there are enormous social pressures: in this part of the region, the prevalence of second homes is particularly high and house prices are close to twice the regional average, this is also due in part to the in-migration of affluent older people retiring to these scenic areas. In the areas that have been designated as Objective 5b, full time incomes are typically 60% of the UK mean figure. The age profile is highly skewed by these factors and the out-migration of young people due to the lack of job opportunities. The need for sustainable development - in economic, environmental and social terms - is very clear, yet the challenges are structural and profound.
The lowland area in the centre and east of the region includes the Vale of York, Vale of Pickering, the areas around the Humber estuary and the Yorkshire Wolds. Notwithstanding the generally good quality of agricultural land, average net farm incomes were forecast to be negative in 1998/99. Across the area, there is a whole mix of farming types but the high incidence of pig farms is the most distinctive feature: the region accounts for nearly 30% of the English pig herd. This sector has been hit particularly hard by the fall in farm incomes and the multiplier effects throughout the economy in rural areas have been substantial. There are also environmental concerns related to the high concentration of pig farms in this area. However, perhaps the most difficult issue for this part of the region is its juxtaposition with the Objective 1 area of the South Yorkshire coalfield. This has meant that the opportunity for people and businesses based in rural areas to harness adjacent urban wealth in a positive way is simply not available. In this part of the region, the issue of wealth is not therefore simply about distribution; wealth generation of an appropriate and sustainable form must also be pursued.
Regional Aspiration And Goals
The aspiration for Yorkshire and the Humber is:
"To enhance the rural environment and rural communities of the Yorkshire & the Humber Region through the sustainable development of competitive and diverse rural businesses and services"
In response, specific goals have been identified by the regional partners. They are listed in no order of priority.
England Rural Development Plan in Yorkshire and the Humber: Regional Goals
- A sustainable environment through the wise use of natural and cultural resources
- A high quality countryside with diverse and characteristic landscapes, increased biodiversity and sustainable management of soil and water
- A more appreciated and valued environment
- Develop a culture for and infrastructure to support lifelong learning opportunities
- Create balanced, empowered, inclusive communities
- Provision of integrated transport
- Fair and equitable access to services
- Stronger, more competitive and integrated Regional Economy
- Create and develop market opportunities
- Highly skilled and flexible workforce
- More effective infrastructure
Underpinning this aspiration is the desire to redress some of the social and economic polarities that have emerged within rural areas in Yorkshire and the Humber. Paradoxically, if left unchecked, these will ultimately undermine the "rural product" that attracts in-movers and tourists. In response there is a need for a sustainable countryside in which economic, social and environmental concerns are addressed and resolved in an integrated manner. The view of the Regional Planning Group is that this can be achieved through an integrated Rural Development Plan such that local communities and rural businesses will thrive and the natural environment will be enhanced.
The Yorkshire and the Humber Chapter of the England Rural Development Plan
The Chapter that follows presents that part of the England Rural Development Plan relating to Yorkshire and the Humber. It has been devised in a consultative manner by the Regional Planning Group and very much in the context of the issues outlined above. It addresses a broad range of concerns pertaining to rural areas and rural issues, some of which are intentionally outside the scope of the Rural Development Regulation: the aim is to provide a basis from which partners and others can shape a range of local, regional, national and European programmes so that efforts are dovetailed in order to contribute to a shared rural vision for Yorkshire and the Humber.
The remainder of this Chapter is structured as follows. First, we provide a social, environmental and economic "baseline" by assessing the "state of the region" in terms of rural development. Particular attention is paid to disparities across and within the rural economy, and to an overall assessment of rural sustainability. The conclusions and implications from this analysis are then drawn together in a regional Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis which attempts to position the region in terms of emerging rural issues and concerns.
In Section 2, we then outline our strategy for the Yorkshire and the Humber region. Starting from the aspiration summarised above, we highlight our objectives for rural development and the activities that will need to be implemented in order to achieve them. We then comment on the RDR measures available and the extent to which these can be used to support the proposed activities.
The Way Ahead
The issues facing rural areas in Yorkshire and the Humber are both substantial and complex. Their resolution will only be achieved by sustained partnership working amongst both RPG members and others engaged in the economic, social and environmental arenas. Our hope is that the strategy presented here will provide a catalyst for this process. The Rural Development Regulation can only deliver part of what is required and part of what is discussed in this Chapter. However we have worked hard to ensure that our strategy complements other regional statements - notably Yorkshire Forward's Regional Economic Strategy and the strategic framework developed by the Regional Assembly - and for this reason, we are confident that other partners will want to respond positively to this Rural Development Strategy and contribute fully to its implementation.
| Members of the Yorkshire and the Humber RPG include: | |
|---|---|
| Countryside Agency | English Heritage |
| English Nature | Environment Agency |
| Yorkshire Forward | Regional Assembly |
| Forestry Commission | Government Office Yorkshire & The Humber |
| MAFF | Farming and Rural Conservation Agency |
Page last modified:
17 August, 2005
Page published: 1 October, 2000