RDPE FAQ's
What is the RDPE?
When will the new programme start?
How much funding will be available?
What types of proposals are likely to be funded?
How will the scheme be delivered?
What are the benefits of a more strategic approach?
Do I have to be a farmer to apply for funding?
What is meant by the LEADER approach?
How much of the budget will be used for LEADER?
How will LEADER groups and areas be selected?
What is the RDPE?
This is the mechanism for delivering money allocated to England’s rural areas from the European Fund for Rural Development and the Government from 2007 to 2013. As part of the Defra's Modernising Rural Delivery Programme, the RDA's were given additional responsibilities to deliver the socio-economic part of the programme. The main aim of this change is to ensure it is delivered in a more efficient, streamlined and customer-focused way.
When will the new programme start?
The programme is now live in the region, after receiving final legal confirmation from the EC and EU in the New Year. We’re working hard to get the first investment projects underway across the region as quickly as possible.
How much funding will be available?
The national budget is £3.9 billion for 2007-2013.
Of this, around £22.5m each year will be allocated to the agri-environment and other land management schemes in North East England. These schemes fall under Axis 2 of the programme, and will be managed by Natural England and the Forestry Commission. For more information on Axis 2, its priorities and delivery arrangements, visit www.rdpenortheast.co.uk
Around £6.6m each year is allocated to One NorthEast to deliver the socio-economic elements of the programme. These fall under Axis 1 and 3.
What types of proposals are likely to be funded?
The new socio-economic funding will be based around the following priority themes of:
- Micro-enterprise development
- Bio-energy
- Sustainable Communities
- Sustainable Farming and Forestry
- Tourism and Recreation
Business investments that fit in these priority themes and with the Regional Economic Strategy, Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, Regional Food and Drink Strategy and the Regional Forestry Strategy will be higher priority.
Please visit www.rdpenortheast.co.uk for further information.
How will the scheme be delivered?
RDPE will not be application led; instead One NorthEast will carefully select intermediaries to deliver RDPE, to ensure that the limited funds make the greatest impact.
There will be three, main methods of delivery:
- The newly-established North East England Investment Centre:
Managed by Business Link North East, this will channel RDPE funding into support for micro-enterprise, helping existing and new businesses to access the specialist advice and support they need to develop and grow. This is an important mechanism for delivering RDPE funding, as it will make sure not only that all rural businesses can access appropriate support, but also any mainstream support for which they might also be eligible – something which hasn’t always happened in the past.
RDPE investments made through the NEEIC will have to be the result of Business Link’s business or skills diagnostic process – showing why the project is needed and what it seeks to achieve, potentially with a business development plan indicating the types of funding or training that the business may be eligible to apply for. - The New LEADER approach:
Partnerships using the LEADER approach - a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development. This is a new feature of RDPE, in that more than 25% of the socio-economic funding in North East England each year will be delivered through geographically-focused partnerships using LEADER; LEADER is now a delivery tool, rather than a separate programme as it has been in the past.
Following an ‘expressions of interest’ process, which led to submissions from nine prospective LEADER partnerships across the region, five have been invited to prepare local development strategies for their areas:
• Northumberland National Park (covering the Northumberland Uplands)
• Northumberland Coast AONB (covering the Northumberland Coast & Lowlands)
• Durham Rural Community Council (covering East Durham)
• North Pennines AONB, in conjunction with Tees & Wear Valley LSPs, has been invited to prepare a combined strategy covering the North East North Pennines and parts of Teesdale and Wear Valley.
• Tees Valley Rural Community Council, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, has been invited to look at a combined approach for the Tees Valley.
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is also working on a cross-regional bid with North Yorkshire Moors National Park, for which Yorkshire Forward will take the lead but One NorthEast will be involved in the selection process.
We should know which partnerships have been successful by the end of March. - Strategic Investments:
One NorthEast’s rural team, along with stakeholders, is currently developing a series of strategic investments for each of the priority themes. The delivery arrangements for each of these specific investment programmes will vary to ensure that they meet the specific needs and requirements of the priority area.
Strategic programmes of investment are currently being developed in the following areas:
• Bioenergy (approximately £700,000 p/a);
• Tourism and Recreation (approximately £400, 000 p/a);
• Land based sector skills (approximately £700,000 p/a); and
• Sustainable communities (approximately £530,000 p/a).
Each strategic investment will last 2 years, after which they will be reviewed to ensure that they have addressed rural priorities. This gives the Agency the opportunity to implement further changes to the programme, to ensure that needs and continue to be met in rural areas.
Ongoing evaluation will take place through the lifetime of RDPE, shaping the programme along the way.
Detailed delivery arrangements for the investments above are yet to be finalised, but more information will be available once the programmes are ready to begin. Their start dates will be staggered throughout spring and summer, to ensure full resources are available to enable their success.
What are the benefits of a more strategic approach?
The rationale is to ensure rural areas as a whole are able to benefit. The impact will be greater through this approach and funding can be targeted so investment occurs in the areas of greatest need.
Do I have to be a farmer to apply for funding?
No, the new RDPE Socio-economic programme is open to anyone with a proposal that will benefit the rural economy, rural communities, aid sustainable farming and forestry and contribute to regional food and drink.
What is meant by the LEADER approach?
A community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development, LEADER gives geographically-focused partnerships – involving representatives from the public sector, local businesses, land managers, local voluntary groups, and local residents – the chance to develop and deliver their own strategies for rural regeneration. In the past, LEADER has been a delivery tool but now it is a separate programme.
How much of the budget will be used for LEADER?
At least 5% of the total RDPE funding across all axis will be delivered through the Leader approach (now approximately £1.5m p/a in the North East Region).
How will LEADER groups and areas be selected?
Defra and One NorthEast are keen to address rural needs through the LEADER approach to address poor economic performance and deprivation. Delivery of the LEADER approach will be guided by the North East Implementation Plan and the One NorthEast Funding Priorities.
For more information about the LEADER approach please click here
