Planning advice - Feasibility studies - Grant funding - Renewable energy

Rural Development Consultants

ruralfutures

Rural Development Public Case Studies

Economic Viability of Farm Scale AD Biogas Production Across Cheshire and Warrington

Rural futures lead the consultancy team which included CNG Services, specialists in biogas to grid and SKM Enviros.

The purpose of this report was to investigate the economic feasibility of different models of farm based AD development within the Cheshire and Warrington area. Given that farms in the study area are predominantly engaged in livestock enterprises, the study focused on AD models in which the primary input material was animal waste with potential secondary feed stocks being derived from off farm energy crops.

Biofuels for transport

Rural Futures have completed a report for County Council in relation to the opportunities and problems in respect of replacing traditional fossil fuels in vehicles with biofuels.

Bowland Initiative and Lancashire Rural Futures

The Rural Futures team was at the forefront of pioneering a new approach to regeneration in rural areas. Support for regeneration in rural areas was seen as fragmented and remote. Private sector farmers and business owners lacked the knowledge of how to access support and funding. Public sector policies were little understood by the private sector and not integrated within their development plans.

Lancashire Cheese Trails and Education

Key Features: Tourism Development; Local food Production;

Support Provided: Project design, management and impementation;

Rural Futures developed a project to promote local food, celebrate its distinctiveness and use it for both tourism promotion and education. Each trail is a short circular walk in the vicinity of the cheesemakers dairies, and where appropriate walkers are encouraged to call in at the dairies, restaurants, pubs and shops nearby which serve local cheese. Each walk is “whey marked” and promoted with a map and leaflet.

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Tourism Development; Local food Production;

Gulu Renewable Energy Options – Northern Uganda

Rural Futures is providing technical expertise to the programme delivering support associated with AD technology appraisal, feedstock assessment and associated agricultural infrastructure requirements.

AD provides a real opportunity to not only develop a sustainable energy source but also to create opportunities within the region’s agricultural economy. Through a basic power infrastructure program wider benefits will be delivered to the region’s economy, healthcare and educational provision.

Rural Sustainable Marketing Programme

This was a £2.3M EU funded programme which was delivered by the Rural Futures team members in partnership with Lancashire County Council using the LEADER method of delivery. The programme was delivered on time and to budget claiming 99.7% of the available funds.

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Private Sector Case Studies

Rural Futures - providing rural business support via, project planning and management, advising on RDPE and other grants, feasibility studies, business plans and planning advice. Specialists in public sector rural regeneration programme management, delivery, monitoring and evaluation to provide sustainable economic and environmental development including Entry Level (ELS), Upland Entry Level (UELS), Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and Woodland Grant Schemes (WGS). . Experience in renewable energy, local food production, farm and rural business diversification, and community resource and social enterprise projects. Portfolio includes projects in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Gtr. Manchester and throughout the North West and the UK.