Welcome to July's Insight
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Dear AMT member
In this, the second issue of Insight, we take a look at the new LEADER programme and how it may offer opportunities to market towns and their rural hinterlands.
Are market towns becoming ‘gentrified’ – a new study from the University of Leicester suggests they are. Insight brings the details.
There is further news on affordable housing a year on from the publication of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission report and news of five government consultations which will be of interest to market towns.
And you will also want to get details of the AMT Convention in Newmarket – we have a really exciting programme with the theme New Challenges.
I hope you enjoy Insight. Please let me have your comments and any items for inclusion in future editions.
Please feel free to forward Insight to other members of your organization. If any of your members would like Insight delivered directly to their
e-mailbox, please send me their e-mail address.
John Pole
Communications Manager
NEWS
Opportunities in new LEADER programme
The new LEADER programme offers opportunities for market towns and their rural hinterland. Approximately double the size of the previous LEADER+ programme, it runs from 2007 to 2013 and is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
LEADER is now being administered through the Regional Development Agencies, each of whom is devising a set of guidelines in line with overall guidance from Defra.
For an AMT briefing on LEADER and the situation in each RDA go to
NEWS
Market town ‘gentrification’
English market towns are being transformed through a combination of demographic and economic changes that have inexorably changed their character, according to a new study from the University of Leicester presented on June 29.
Researcher Craig Wheway, of the Department of Geography, has been examining the ‘gentrification’ of market towns across England. Craig said: “While a small proportion of Brits dream of owning a second property abroad, it appears that market towns in England are becoming increasingly popular. I have looked at the impact of middle class incomers - known as ‘gentrifiers’ - and how market towns have changed into bustling urban centres”.
For more information go to
NEWS
New funding for rural affordable housing?
Defra is researching a proposal for a new funding programme to improve the provision of rural affordable housing. The research was announced by Barry Gardiner MP, Minister for Rural Affairs. The research could lead to proposals for the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year. For more details go to
NEWS
Affordable housing one year on
One year on from the report of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission a report on progress has been produced by the Commission for Rural Communities, which also held a 'taking stock' conference in June.
For a briefing on the report and conference, together with links to download the report and conference reports go to
NEWS
Cleaner, safer, greener communities
This is a new government website bringing together information and support to inspire individuals, communities, local authorities, businesses and others to use, improve, maintain and own their parks, green spaces and streets. Go to
NEWS
BURA awards
BURA – the British Urban Regeneration Association – invites entries to its 2007 awards celebrating outstanding grass-roots regeneration projects; inspired by local people and addressing local issues for the benefit of the wider community. The closing date for entries is August 3.
Almost 100 projects have been recognised through these awards since 1994.
The awards are sponsored by Communities and Local Government.
For more information contact the BURA Awards Team on 020 7539 4030, email awards or visit
BEST PRACTICE
Rural affordable housing case study
A county-wide partnership approach to delivering affordable rural housing in Hampshire is the subject of a best practice report from the Commission for Rural Communities. The partnership is between county rural housing enablers, rural local authorities and the Housing Corporation. The partnership appointed Hyde Housing Association as its registered social landlord and expect to have their first 57 homes completed by Spring 2008. The report can be downloaded at
NEWS
Building cohesive communities
The final report of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion has been published. The commission was tasked to recommend practical action at local level to promote community cohesion and integration. With many market towns experiencing large increases in migrant labour, this report will be important reading for partnerships and local councils. For a summary of the report go to weblink Cohesion summary. To download the full report go to weblink Final report. For a response from the Commission for Rural Communities to go weblink CRC response.
CONSULTATION
Communities England
Communities England will be the new social housing and regeneration agency, incorporating the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and some delivery functions of the Department for Communities and Local Government. This consultation offers an opportunity to comment on its roles and responsibilities and suggest how it might operate.
The consultation document also invites views on the government’s proposals for the future system of regulating social housing providers, taking forward recommendations made by Professor Martin Cave in his Review of Social Housing Regulation. For details go to
CONSULTATION
Shaping the future of community sport
Sport England is holding an online consultation on its plan for community sport 2008-2013. The consultation runs until September 10. To take part go to
CONSULTATION
Review of Co-operative and Credit Union legislation
The Treasury seeks views on the review of the legislation for cooperatives and credit unions in Great Britain. The long-term aim is to provide these sectors with a cost-effective legislative framework, which will enable them to compete more effectively in modern society. The consultation ends on September 12. For details go to
CONSULTATION
Planning White Paper
The Department for Communities and Local Government is consulting on a number of the key proposals contained in the white paper on Planning for a Sustainable Future. The white paper sets out a programme of proposed reforms to the planning system to be taken forward in the next three years. The consultation ends on August 17. For more details go to
CONSULTATION
Gift Aid
The Treasury is holding a consultation to examine measures to drive-up charitable giving through Gift Aid. The consultation closes on September 30. For more details go to
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Action for Market Towns Convention
'New Challenges' is the theme for an exciting Convention programme in Newmarket on 26 and 27 September. For details go to:
Inspiring rural communities
The Plunkett Foundation Rural Social Enterprise Conference is on November 28 and 29. Inspiring Rural Communities by using social enterprise approaches to rural development is the theme of the conference.For further information contact:
Town centre awards
Entries are invited to the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) Town Centre Environment Awards which aim to highlight and reward the great work going on all over the UK to improve the appeal of our town centres large and small. More details at:
Engaging youth toolkit
A new toolkit on engaging young people in community organizations has been published by Community Matters. It is free to Community Matters members and £9.95 for others. For more details e-mail :
Paved with Gold
A report, ‘Paved with Gold’, showing how good street design gives both economic benefits and public value has been published by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). To download a copy go to:
Low cost housing
The latest edition of ‘Open’ – the magazine of the Housing Corporation – focuses on the latest developments in low-cost home ownership. It is downloadable as a pdf from:
Problems with geese in town?
A one-day Geese Peace conference is being held in Stratford-upon-Avon on October 15. It will impart Stratford’s own experiences and offer practical help to towns which have a problem of too many wild geese. Details at:
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