Our research
The LRRG is focused on bringing forward research, evidence and policy ideas that will help unlock the potential of our rural communities while highlighting the challenges our rural communities face.
The Future of the
Rural Economy
Our third report examines how rural Britain can play a central role in delivering national economic growth.
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Drawing on official statistics, written evidence and focus groups with rural residents, the report concludes thar rural Britain is not economically weak, but economically constrained. Rural communities support millions of jobs, hundreds of thousands of businesses and major national supply chains, yet barriers in housing, infrastructure, labour supply, connectivity land use and public services continue to limit productivity and growth.
The report sets out 27 practical recommendations to unlock rural economic potential and ensure rural communities can contribute fully to food security, clean energy, nature recovery, housing, regional growth and national prosperity.
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All findings and recommendations are now available in the full report and executive summary.
Rural Poverty in Britain
Our second report draws on evidence from councils, NHS bodies, charities, rural businesses and rural residents - as well as focus groups commissioned exclusively for the LRRG - and finds a consistent pattern: rural households are expected to travel further, pay more and rely on fewer alternatives, yet national funding and service models continue to assume urban density, economies of scale and proximity to services.
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In March 2026, the LRRG set out 24 recommendations centred on a comprehensive Rural Strategy that address the root causes rather than symptoms of hardship; going beyond isolated interventions or “rural add-ons”.
All findings and recommendations are now available in the full report and executive summary.
Understanding Rural Britain
Our first report revealed the shifting political dynamics in rural Britain following Labour’s historic 2024 General Election victory. ​
Based on a survey of over 1,400 rural voters conducted between 30 June and 14 July 2025, 'Understanding Rural Britain' sets out the issues, identities and expectations shaping the political landscape across the UK’s countryside.
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Read the full report.