Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I am pleased to announce I have committed the final tranche of funding under the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020.
I have made the decision to fully commit the remaining EU element of the funding, totalling £126.3m, after the UK Government guaranteed funding for all projects signed before the UK leaves the EU. Previously, the Chancellor only guaranteed to finance projects signed before the 2016 Autumn Statement. The Welsh Government will also provide £96.4m.
This commitment means farmers, landowners, food producers and others who benefit from the RDP can continue to plan, safe in the knowledge they will continue to receive current levels of funding under the RDP until the end of the current programme, even if the UK leaves the EU before then.
The scheme windows and other activities included in this final tranche, totalling £223m, fully commit the EU allocation for the programme. This will enable a wide range of schemes across the programme to open including Farm Business Grant, Glastir Advanced, Food Business Investment Scheme, Co-operation and Supply Chain Development, Glastir Woodland Creation and Rural Community Development Fund.
Full details of upcoming scheme windows will be available on the Welsh Government website in due course.
http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/cap/ruraldevelopment/wales-rural-development-programme-2014-2020/?lang=en