All RDAs across England are closing by March 2012
(see transition and closure section).
With our resources reducing steadily, this page has not been recently updated and the information below may not be current.
If in doubt, please contact us directly.
Latest News:
Responsibility for the elements of the programme that have been
delivered by South West RDA since the programme started transfers
to Defra on 1 July. The RDA has written to all projects informing
them of this on Defra’s behalf – the full text
of the letter is available here.
Many of the staff who have been involved in RDPE will be
transferring to Defra, and will become the Defra RDPE Delivery Team
South West. The main office base will be:
Clyst House,
Winslade Park,
Clyst St Mary
Exeter EX5 1DY
Contact details for individual staff are being finalised, so
emails sent to addresses @southwestrda.org.uk will be forwarded to
the new Defra email addresses for some time after transfer. The new
central mailbox for the team is rdpedeliverysouthwest@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK
The RDPE website will remain in use for a short time after the
transfer date. Thereafter, information on the programme will be
posted in a new RDPE section of the main Defra website which is
currently under development.
Regional overview
The RDPE priorities for the competitiveness of the agriculture
and forestry sectors and the quality of life in rural areas were
considered in specific relation to South West England by regional
partners, including farming, environmental, business and community
organisations.
On the basis of a thorough analysis of South West England’s
rural characteristics and economy, they decided on aims, objectives
and priorities to meet the needs of the region. These are detailed
in the Regional
Implementation Plan.
The main investment themes are:
- Skills development
- Social enterprise
- Business support
- Supply chain and adding value
- Resource management (soil, water, energy, waste)
- Sustainable Rural Tourism
- Biodiversity and landscape
- Community-led Development (Local Action)