CONSULTATION PROSPECTUS

The Centre specialises in social and economic rural community development projects, working for and with a wide range of public, private, and independent clients including the Countryside Agency, the Housing Corporation, and Local Government.

We work closely with a number of academic institutions and consultants and are very keen to develop those links further.
Research completed or under way includes the following.

Recent and current consultancy work

• Towards a Rural Vision for the South East - preparing the text for a document published by the Countryside Agency in the Autumn of 2004
• Affordable Housing in Rother District - advice to the Local Planning Authority in support of their Local Plan policies (Public Hearing October 2004)
• Rural Housing Enablers - national and regional training workshops and conferences
• Consultation prospectus available

Rural Community Involvement, Development and Partnership

• Bridging the gap between community-led parish and town plans and wider Local Strategic Partnerships and Community Strategies
  An action research project to develop good practice in local “bridging”, based on five case studies in England;
  Undertaken in collaboration with the Countryside and Community Research Unit, University of Gloucestershire (CCRU) and Catherine Chater, independent consultant.
  Client: Countryside Agency
  Completion date: January 2004
• "Taking Part”: An evaluation of good practice in the involvement of rural communities in rural policies, programmes, and projects, and the preparation of a “Toolkit” for participation
  Based on twelve case studies in England; undertaken in collaboration with the CCRU and Jo Rose Associates, independent consultant.
  Client: Countryside Agency
  Completion date: January 2003
• Partnerships in Rural Integrated Development in Europe (PRIDE): An evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of rural development partnerships within 6 EU countries and the preparation of a UK Good Practice Guide
  In collaboration with CCRU and research institutions from Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, and Sweden.
  Client: EU Research Directorate, Framework 5 research project
  Completion date: June 2001
• Community Holistic Action Plans (CHAPS):
  Case studies of community-led integrated action plans’, in collaboration with the CCRU.
  Client: Countryside Agency
  Completion date: June 2002
• Preparing Parish/Town Action Plans: draft text for a national Good Practice Guide
  Client: Countryside Agency
  Completion date: December 2002
• Community Infrastructure : feasibility studies
  Hailsham (1999), Newhaven (2001)
• LEADER: Good Practice Guidelines for involving local communities in the preparation and development of LEADER projects in Europe (translated into seven languages); in collaboration with CCRU.
  Completion date: 1997

RURAL HOUSING

• National Training Workshops for rural housing Enablers working for rural community councils in England, in collaboration with Jo Rose Associates.
  Client: Countryside Agency
  Completion Date: February 2004
• National Good Practice Guide for affordable housing in rural areas, in collaboration with the Housing Research Unit, Simon de Montfort University and Catherine Chater, independent consultant.
  Client: The Housing Corporation
  Completion date: March 2004
• The Wealden HOPE project,
  Researching parish housing needs and pioneering new ways of meeting such needs, with Wealden District Council (main client).
  Completion date: 2004
• Housing Needs Surveys for the Districts of Lewes (2003), Rother (2001), Chichester (1999), based on a questionnaire survey method developed specially to cover rural parishes.
  Previous surveys were also carried out for the Districts of Wealden (in collaboration with the University of Sussex), Horsham, Mid Sussex, Arun, Chichester and Worthing.
• Empty Homes Survey for the Borough of Worthing.

Rural Analysis, Policies and Plans

• A Rural Strategy for the Isle of Wight encompassing an integrated and sustainable set of social, economic and environmental objectives and policies, and a five-year action plan (advice and facilitation of a rural strategy and Action Plan for the Isle of Wight).
  Client: Isle of Wight Regeneration Partnership
  Completion date: June 2002
• A Rural Community Profile for West Sussex; preparation of data packs, reports, and workshops for users, in collaboration with the University of Brighton (Health & Social Policy Research Centre).
  Client: West Sussex Local Strategic Partnership (County and Districts)
  Completion date: December 2002 and ongoing
• Rural Proofing of the policies and programmes of the South East Economic Development Agency [SEEDA]
  Briefing Paper for the Scrutiny Committee of the South East Regional Agency.
  Completion date: 2001
• A Rural Community Profile for the South Downs; reports on social, community and economic needs of communities in the South Downs, in collaboration with the University of Sussex.
  Client: Sussex Downs Conservation Board
  Completion date: 1997
• Littlehampton Town Action Plan, involving the local community in preparing and evaluating options for development.
  Client: Littlehampton Town Council
  Completion date: 1995
• Billingshurst By-pass: involving the local community in consultations on alternative options.
  Client: Horsham District Council
  Completion date: 1995

The Centre for Rural development is proud of the work which it has already achieved in its first few years. But there is much more to do. In a rapidly changing rural economy and society there is an urgent need for sound evidence on which to base appropriate policies and programmes.

We are keen to work with others to improve that evidence base and strengthen the foundations of good practice in rural development.