I will unleash rural prosperity by engaging with and raising the profile of South Shropshire's local industries, cutting red tape and reforming regulations to enable businesses to thrive and unlock local growth.
South Shropshire is full of potential. As your MP, I will work closely with the Council and the Government to unlock this potential and unleash rural prosperity across the constituency.
There is so much to champion in South Shropshire. We have the extraordinary Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now called 'Natural Landscapes'), and the tourism this attracts for our local economy. The historic market towns, from Church Stretton and Bishops Castle, to Clun and Ludlow, to Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock, each have their own unique attraction and beauty.
I will always prioritise improving prosperity, seeking to support and enable the right economic environment for every business to thrive. Rural prosperity is about providing opportunity, development and growth for the rural economy.
With our fantastic farms to the thriving local breweries, coffee shops and restaurants in the towns, as well as tourist attractions like the stunning Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire is already full of optimism for the future.
In 2023, rural areas contributed £259 billion to England’s Gross Value Added (GVA), representing 12.2% of the total GVA for England. However, at the same time overall productivity in the most rural areas is typically lower than urban areas and is only 82% of the average for England excluding London.
Supporting the rural economy is vital to growing our national economy. That is why the Conservative Government has already made hundreds of millions of pounds available in grants such as the Rural England Prosperity Fund, the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Fund, or the Community Ownership Fund.
There is always more we can do, such as improving digital connectivity, adapting planning rules and increasing access to local transport. With the right investment, we can make sure that South Shropshire continues to be a fantastic place to live and work.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a £2.6 billion fund available for investment in local projects until March 2025. It aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
It has seen more than £12 million invested across South Shropshire to support businesses and communities including:
- Shropshire Council Destination Development Programme: The projects set out in this programme will improve economic prosperity and enable the Shropshire’s visitor economy to develop a robust evidence base to inform future strategy and support stakeholders and businesses.
As Member of Parliament for South Shropshire, I am committed to:
Listening to what you need for your business to thrive;
Supporting the fantastic opportunities in South Shropshire locally and in Parliament;
Delivering the funding and support that will unleash rural prosperity across the constituency.
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