RDPE Funding
The RDPE Programme in County Durham is delivered via LEADER.
Contacts details for each scheme are as follows:
North Pennines LEADER
Telephone: 07789 266 491 or email the North Pennines officer or visit the North Pennines LEADER website
East Durham LEADER
Telephone:01429 824 743 or email the East Durham officer or visit the East Durham LEADER website.
County Durham Business and Community Assets Scheme
Durham County Council has secured funds through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Grants are available for capital and revenue project until March 2011.
All applications must make a significant contribution to the Social and Economic future of its locality. To be eligible all projects will need to:
- Be targeted at community based enterprises, for the promotion of farm diversification, rural micro-enterprise development and the enhancement and access to essential services for the rural economy.
- Be capped a maximum of €200,000 per business, organisation or community over a period of three fiscal years
- Demonstrate wider benefit in terms of jobs created or safeguarded, economic growth, sustainability, benefit to other businesses and improving access to additional community services.
Examples of eligible projects include: farms diversifying into non agricultural activities such as development of farm visitor attractions or farm tea rooms / shops, introduction of leisure facilities and supporting the development of micro enterprises by the renovation of disused buildings into affordable office space.
Examples of activities unlikely to receive support include liveries, B & B and self catering accommodation.