A £1m fund for rural communities will be shared among 36 councils with the best ideas, following a competition run by Communities and Local Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, CABE and the Homes and Communities Agency.
The rural masterplanning fund will be used to prepare sustainable plans for community extensions, such as one for 1,000 homes, a school, businesses and recreation space in North Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
It was announced by government as a response to the Taylor Review on rural communities in 2008, which recommended new policies for market towns at risk from unsympathetic development and homogenous housing estates. It recommended mixed use neighbourhood extensions including shops and community facilities, workplaces and open spaces.
Successful councils will receive advice from CABE and the Homes and Communities Agency on project management, procurement and training.
