Our Priorities

Our Local Development Strategy describes what we plan to achieve by 2013. For projects to be considered they should align with the priorities set out in the Strategy. The Brecks priorities for the next three years are set out below;

Developing the area’s capacity to sustain increased levels of business activity

• Identify opportunities for the development of rural businesses with a focus on the creation and development of micro-enterprises
• Provide basic services for local communities that support planned growth within the area.

Supporting farm based diversification and modernisation within agriculture

Diversify

• Make use of waste or green energy options
• Develop sustainable tourism initiatives
• Develop retail, manufacturing or service industries

Modernise

• Improve on-farm nutrient management
• Enhance product quality through advanced crop storage
• Develop farm based small scale renewable energy projects
• Encourage farmers to invest and adopt practices that improve the health status and environmental impact of their livestock

Infrastructure to improve water efficiency in agriculture

• Develop opportunities for promoting collaboration in water storage and improved systems of water usage
• Investigate and utilise winter rainfall, promoting abstraction and storage
• Develop efficient use of agricultural water through new technologies and control systems

Local supply chains for energy production, food, timber and basic commodity products.

• Identify business opportunities for collaborative approaches between landowners, livestock producers and local authorities for waste handling and energy production
• Promote local produce and engage with local producers, reducing food miles, minimising the amount of packaging and improving consumer understanding
• Add value to basic commodity products be they from arable crops, vegetables, fruit or livestock
• Develop new products, processes and technologies utilising local timber

Responsible tourism within the Brecks

• Promote ‘The Brecks’ as a leading destination for responsible tourism
• Increase understanding and appreciation of the special Brecks environment
• Reduce the overall impact of tourism on the fragile environment
• Increase co-ordination and co-operation between stakeholders in the tourism sector

Click here to download a copy of the Local Development Strategy