At its autumn conference in Sheffield, the Green Party has voted to adopt new policies to address the challenges facing rural communities, as well as strengthening protection for habitats and wildlife.
Caroline Allen of the party's national Policy Committee, who led the policy review, said: "Our new policies aim to revitalise the rural economy without resorting to inappropriate and damaging development.
"People are rightly horrified by the Coalitions proposals for a National Planning Policy Framework, which would simply give developers a green light to concrete over out countryside. We would strengthen planning controls for large-scale or damaging land-use changes in the countryside. In addition we reaffirmed our complete opposition to any sell off of Forestry Commission land.
"Our policies will support rural communities, create new employment, protect services and ensure that any development is appropriate, sustainable and provides real benefit.'
To address the rural housing shortage, the Green Party proposes a Rural Housing Agency to keep under review housing needs and would support imaginative schemes to meet these needs in a sustainable and affordable manner. The Greens also want to see more Government action to stop the loss of essential facilities like health centres, schools and post offices.
The Green Party would increase agricultural employment through better access to land for new entrants and by securing long term local markets.
The party also recognises the potential of non-agricultural rural enterprise, including recreation and tourism, renewable energy, home working and internet-linked enterprise.
Rural employment is often characterised by low pay and seasonal work, and improved employment opportunities, particularly for young people, are essential.
Caroline Allen continued: "We recognise that policies that may work in urban areas can be inappropriate in rural areas. The drive for so-called efficiency is leading to many rural communities being left without adequate access to basic facilities. Our policies aim to reverse this trend and reinvigorate rural life."
Other policies adopted would:
• Give greater protection to wildlife and extend a basic level of habitat protection to the whole countryside.
• Link national parks and conservation areas to create a wider network of areas with high conservation value.
• Protect and maintain existing rights of way and provide wider public access to the countryside.
• Ensure that tourism and recreation development is sustainable and benefits local economies.