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NEW
LEASE OF LIFE FOR FARM BUILDINGS
FROM SEEDA
2
November 2000
New jobs and
business opportunities are to be created in rural areas of the
South East through a £500,000 Farm Diversification Scheme
managed by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
The first
phase of the scheme involves converting redundant agricultural
buildings on 25 farms across the region to create 7,600 sq m of
new workspace for a variety of uses, including light industrial,
offices, a nursery school, farm shop, livery stables and self-catering
accommodation.
The farms
- arable, livestock, mixed and fruit farms - cover more than 3,480
hectares in total, and the conversions are aimed at making a positive
impact on the rural economy including
Over 100 farms
in the South East applied for grants under the Farm Diversification
Scheme, and SEEDA had to assess the applications rigorously before
selecting the initial 25 projects. A second phase will be announced
early next month, with SEEDA contributing a total of £500,000
to the successful applicants. All the building conversions backed
by SEEDA are environmentally sensitive and in keeping with their
surroundings, as well as meeting the highest design standards.
Rural Sector
Director at SEEDA, Valerie Carter, commented: "At a time
of increased pressures on agricultural businesses, we are trying
to help farmers in the South East diversify into other income
generating activities, and find long term uses for some of their
redundant farm buildings."
She added:
"The scheme gives farmers the opportunity to create new sources
of income for themselves as well as meaningful employment for
their local communities, and it is no surprise that the scheme
is so popular - in fact it was six times over subscribed. We will
continue to find innovative ways of supporting the region's farmers."
SEEDA Director
of Regeneration & Infrastructure, Paul Hudson, explained:
"The Farm Diversification Scheme is part of our strategy
to promote employment opportunities and quality of life in the
South East's villages and countryside. We have an extensive investment
programme for the rural parts of the region and are currently
investing £1.8 million in the Rural Priority Areas of Kent,
East Sussex and the Isle of Wight."
Farmers in
the South East can expect more good news with the imminent publication
of the Government's Rural White Paper, which sets out future policies
for the English countryside and rural development. SEEDA has been
working with its partner organisations in the region to provide
input to the White Paper, and worked with the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries & Food (MAFF) to prepare the South East chapter
of the recently launched England Rural Development Plan.
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