Rural Strategy - Buckinghamshire County Council

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The importance of rural areas to the economy in termsof other services outside of agriculture is illustrated in theincreasing numbers of small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) in the countryside. Local profiles show that anumber of sectors in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynesdisplay an SME distribution that is around or above theregional average, notably tourism. A large proportion ofthese SMEs are also home-based, approximately 43% 14 .Local support for farms and in particular local produce hasbeen increasing in recent years, through the work done bystrategic groups such as the Bucks and Milton Keynes FoodGroup. The termination of CAP 15 payments too, has seenfarmers in a better position to respond to the demands oflocal markets.A more recent issue of prominence has been that ofincreasing food and fuel prices in the UK. With national foodand fuel supplies operating under trade deficit conditions,the country has become more susceptible to externalmarket forces than many of its European and Internationalcounterparts.On a global scale, a combination of population growthand the impacts of climate change have seen crop yieldsdiminish, forcing prices to rise by up to 60%. Similarly, theincreased use of crops for fuel rather than as food and theincreased consumption of rapidly developing economies ofcountries such as China and India, has seen the shortfallfor certain food types become more pronounced. Withthe world’s population due to grow from 6.6 billion to 8.3billion by 2030 16 , the trend looks set to continue. Fuelprices too have seen huge increases as our reliance onnatural resources has meant supplies of oil and gas havesignificantly reduced. Indeed, in the past 12 months,wholesale gas prices have risen by 160% and householdenergy bills are up by approximately 10%. This has ledto consumer inflation prices pushing towards 4% anduncertainty about future economic prospects.The results of these global economic changes are, moreover,now being felt at a national level, and crucially, within therural communities of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.Whether it is associated increased costs in transportprovision and upkeep or higher heating and fuel bills;many families and rural businesses are struggling to makeends meet. The same applies to the agricultural industry,with increasing prices and more changeable yields thesustainability of many farms has been called into question.Yet, opportunities to regenerate the agricultural economymay be forthcoming from this period of change. Theeffects of a reliance on the imports of food and fuels hasseen a renewed acknowledgment of the importance ofself-sufficiency and the ability of our rural areas to respondto these needs. Agriculture in particular may be presentedwith an opportunity to undergo a period of growth one againas the country turns to its own resources to solve ongoingissues of its capacity to sustain a food supply. South Eastfigures reflect this upturn as farm business income fromcereals has increased from £21,997 to £67,460 17 .1.5 EnvironmentalsustainabilityWith the effects of global warming and climate changebecoming more apparent, recognition of the need toconserve and protect our landscapes has increased greatly,reducing our carbon footprint as a nation. Farmers arebeginning to capitalise on this opportunity by growingalternative fuel sources, such as bio fuels, whilst alsodeveloping integrated tree coppicing infrastructures. Theincreasingly widespread utilisation of energy efficient andsustainable technology in rural schools, business and homesis further evidence of this –environmental sustainability hasaffected almost every realm of rural life today. Figure 9 (acomposite of sustainability indicators measured againstthe national average score) below illustrates the effects ofthis greater emphasis on environmental sustainability andthe performance of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes inrelation to the rest of the country.Figure 9 Buckinghamshire andMilton Keynes EnvironmentalSustainability (2006) 18ChilternEnvironmentalsustainability (2006)South BucksWycombeMilton KeynesAylesbury Vale0 47 94 14114
Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Rural Strategy 2008-2012With increasing pressure on the roads and more visitorstaking advantage of the countryside, Buckinghamshire’ ruralareas have faced growing environmental issues and localinitiatives have emerged to reflect this. From the take-up ofenvironmental stewardship to a commitment to reduce CO2through initiatives such as car sharing and improving publictransport provision, sustainability is a hugely important issue.In 2007 in particular, the potential effects of Climate Changewere more evident than ever in the county with a series offreak weather events, most notably the floods during thesummer, and the increasing impact seasonal fluctuations arehaving on crop yields.1.6 HousingHousing affordability is another major issue. With averageprices at an all-time high, the difficulties associated withbuying and retaining a home have intensified. From June2006 to June 2007 alone, the county saw a 6% increase inthe cost of a home rising to £361,516 19 . Beaconsfield, oneof the county’s Market Towns, has been identified as themost expensive town in the UK, with an average house priceof £574,211, some £250,000 greater than the closest rival inGloucestershire. These dramatic increases in prices acrossthe county are illustrated in Figure 10 below.As of June 2008 however, economic forces have changeddrastically and the housing market has seen a remarkablereversal in fortunes. The ‘credit crunch’ affecting financialinstitutions has reduced the borrowing capacity of manyhigh profile mortgage companies, leading to the withdrawalof certain mortgage offers and an increase in interest rateson existing ones. The result has seen a previously buoyanthousing market stagnate as confidence in house priceshas dropped and many homebuyers now face difficultiesin securing a mortgage. Demand for housing, particularlyin rural areas remains high, but it remains to be seen whatthe long-term effects of this financial period will be on housebuilding figures, particularly in the growth area.The lack of affordable housing in rural areas is furtheraccentuated with much of the county located withinprotected landscapes where building is tightly controlled. Adecrease in accommodation for rent has become a concernand one that is likely to intensify if not addressed, particularlywhen associated with social housing requirements. Marketforces play a significant role here, and future adjustmentscould determine whether prices decrease, or indeed rise.1.7 A period of growthBuckinghamshire lies within the Milton Keynes and SouthMidlands (MKSM) growth area. Since the announcement byGovernment of its intention to go forward with proposals todevelop the MKSM, coordinated work has been underwayto plan for growth and to better realise the effects at groundlevel. With work on new residential areas such as Weedonand Berryfields underway since 2006, the scale of thegrowth is now clear. As part of a greater area incorporatingNorthamptonshire and Bedfordshire, the population as awhole is predicted to increase by as much as 400,000.Some of the key statistics are outlined in Figure 11.Average annual house pricesFigure 10 Changes in houseprices (1998-2007) 20480000.00440000.00400000.00360000.00320000.00280000.00240000.00200000.00160000.00120000.0080000.0040000.000.001998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Source: Local knowledge; Property prices, Land RegistryNotes: Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use LicenceAylesbury Vale Chiltern Milton KeynesNational Average South Bucks Wycombe14 Source: Business Link, Enterprise inMKOB Key Statistics, 200815 CAP refers to the Common AgriculturalPolicy, a system of European Unionagricultural subsidies and programmes,representing approximately 44% of theEU’s total budget.16 Source: Ernst and Young Report, 200817 Source: SEE-IN Rural South EastEvidence Base Report 200818 Source: Local Knowledge; GeneralisedLand Use Database; Census 2001;General Quality Assessment Survey;Indices of Deprivation; Best ValuePerformance Indicators19 Source: The Land Registry for Englandand Wales20 Source: Local Knowledge, Propertyprices, Land Registry Notes15
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Rural Strategy - Buckinghamshire County Council

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