Local Authorities now have a statutory duty to complete a local Economic Assessment for their areas which will inform strategic priorities and future investment plans. For Leicester and Leicestershire this is in the process of being compiled and an interim Economic Assessment will be available in the Autumn. The LRP will need to ensure that rural issues are suitably reflected within the assessment.

In the meantime the LRP has been working with partners to ensure that available evidence and knowledge is used to help define priorities for 2009-10.

In September 2008, Leicestershire County Council, with support from the LRP, commissioned Ecotec Research and Consulting to undertake a study into the future needs of sectors key to Leicestershire’s rural economy – Supporting Leicestershire’s Rural Economy - A Sector Scoping Study. More information about this study can be found on the Rural Sector Scoping Study page.

Other evidence that has been drawn upon includes:

• Leicestershire's Rural Economy - Executive Summary, 2006
• Market Towns and Villages Survey, BMG Research Ltd 2008
• Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2008
• The Rural East Midlands 2008, emda

Rural Economy Intelligence

Through our on-going work in support of the rural economy we have been identifying the impacts of the recession on our rural businesses and communities. We are ensuring that we feed this intelligence into reports prepared by Leicestershire County Council and the Commission for Rural Communities. More information can be accessed through the links below

• Leicestershire County Council
• Commission for Rural Communities