Defra launches new rural-proofing advisory group

Some of the country’s most prominent rural stakeholders have joined a new Defra-led advisory group to help add a rural voice to the process of establishing new strategic authorities.

ACRE is one of five national organisations invited to join the group, along with local government representatives, which will meet monthly to support and scrutinise the non-statutory guidance being developed for the new regional bodies.

Each member will be expected to contribute evidence, experience and insight to the drafting process, helping to ensure that all new guidance has been fully rural-proofed.

The group, which will be active for an initial five-month period between September 2026 and January 2027, will also feature representatives from both Defra and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

New mayoral-led strategic authorities are taking shape across the country, and are a key component of the government’s wider plan to give local decision-makers more autonomy.

Ensuring new guidance for the strategic authorities reflects the specific needs of rural communities is now an obligation enshrined in law.

The government’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was amended earlier this year to make specific reference to rural and coastal communities before it became law

It came after a successful lobbying challenge by the Royal Town Planning Institute, which has support from a wide range of rural stakeholders, including ACRE.

More information is available at www.navca.org.uk/devolution-lgr.