What is a City Region?

City Regions were described in the State of the English Cities report, published in 2006, as enlarged territories from which the core urban areas draw people for work and services'.  City Regions straddle local authority boundaries and join city and countryside together for the purposes of strategic planning, governance and economic development.

The Hull and Humber Ports City Region covers the local authority areas of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Why Should a City Region have a Rural Strategy?

City Regions are not just about urban centres; they also recognise the value of surrounding rural areas.  Over the past 50 years the geographical spread of housing and labour markets in England have led to new patterns of living and working which mean that urban and rural areas rely strongly on each other.

The Hull and Humber Ports City Region is "deeply rural in a spatial context" and contains a "rich tapestry of urban, and coastal communities", that all have distinct and vital roles to play in maximising the potential of the City Region.  The aim of strengthening urban-rural links for the mutual benefit of the City region as a whole creates a strong rationale for the development of a rural strategy for th Hull and Humber Ports.

Key Sections of the Strategy

The Hull and Humber Ports City Region Rural Strategy, launched in June 2009, examines the current contribution that rural areas make to economic development in the Hull and Humber Ports, and suggests ways in which the rural economy, environment and rural communities can contribute more effectively to sustainable development in the City Region. It examines the Policy Context within which rural development needs to operate, and identifies the rural Humber's Distinctive Features. It highlights the main Rural Challenges currently facing the City Region and suggests innovative ways to address these. It identifies the Key Drivers and Assets present in the City Regions' rural areas, and the key sectors for the future economic development within rural areas.

Implementing the City Region's Rural Strategy

A detailed plan for implementing the key actions identified in the Hull and Humber Ports City Region Rural Strategy - The Implementation Framework (2009 - 2013) seeks to identify actions to protect and enhance the rural environment, develop and support the rural economy, strengthen the role of 'rural capitals' (market towns) and encourage a stable and sustainable basis for agriculture. It also address challenges around access to services, affordable housing, skills development and transport connectivity. The plan will be monitored and reviewed, allowing for a flexible, but strategically focused approach in its delivery.