Will Andy Burnham’s vision deliver for rural England? Here’s our take

Andy Burnham today set out his ambitious plans to ‘rewire’ British politics. For rural communities, there is cause for cautious optimism.

CPRE welcomes Burnham’s promise to devolve meaningful powers to rural economies, not just towns and cities. For too long, decisions about the places people call home have been made by politicians and civil servants hundreds of miles away. If Burnham is serious about putting ‘place first, not party first,’ rural England should be part of that story.

The opportunity is huge. Research from the Rural Coalition shows that targeted investment in rural England could unlock £19 billion in extra tax revenue. The UK’s highly centralised political system consistently overlooks the countryside, however. Genuine devolution could change that once and for all, enabling more strategic decisions about the use of our finite supply of land.

On housing, Burnham is right that the country needs more genuinely affordable homes and that building at higher densities in towns and cities is part of the answer. Done well, this approach could take pressure off the countryside, protect green spaces, and help revitalise neglected cities, towns and villages. CRPE research has shown how prioritising brownfield sites would allow for quicker timelines compared to greenfield developments.

Burnham also signalled support for British farmers. His criticism of a public procurement culture that chases the cheapest option rather than backing British producers is well-founded. Reform of government food buying to prioritise high-quality, sustainable and local produce could be transformative for farming communities that have too often been an afterthought in Whitehall.

Burnham’s ambition is clear. As always, the proof will be in what comes next.