Rural Services

Lack of key services, affordable housing and poor public transport in rural areas contribute to social exclusion and can have a negative effect on quality of life.  Many people in the countryside do not have access to key services - such as shops, post offices or affordable housing. The scarcity of public transport makes it all the more difficult to reach services, jobs, education and leisure.

This area of the website helps to provide relevant information on work carried out into the understanding of the needs of rural communities and also into work looking at the existing provision.

The Rural Services Standard responds to a commitment in the Rural White Paper 2000, to give rural people a clear understanding of the sort of access to services they can expect. The Standard currently includes 11 key services, which cover education, health and social care, broadband, postal services and emergency services. These are revised annually by Defra, in consultation with relevant government departments and the Commission for Rural Communities.

The 2006 Rural Services Review can be viewed on the Defra website. It sets out standards for the 11 key services, and provides examples of service delivery in rural areas.