On Friday (20 August 2015) the government published its first Rural Productivity Plan to help grow the rural economy.

Villages and towns in England’s rural communities will be allowed to build starter homes for local residents as part of plans set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, and Environment Secretary, Elizabeth Truss.

Measures covered by the plan include improving rural transport connections by feeding the views of rural stakeholders into the second Road Investment Strategy for 2020 to 2025. And, improving connectivity by providing improved transport connections for businesses and passengers in local areas with fifteen brand new routes on the Regional Air Connectivity funding shortlist.

These improvements will be delivered by the £15 billion Road Investment Strategy and the £38 billion rail investment programme.
Further information can be found here.