Urban-rural interdependencies: Joining up policy in practice

Caffyn A. and Dahlstrom M. (2005) Urban-rural interdependencies: joining up policy in practice, Regional Studies 39 , 283-296. 'Urban' and 'rural' are commonly used in an oppositional fashion. Authorities and agencies have similarly developed policies for development and regeneration in Britain with little cross-referencing. This paper argues that there are benefits to be gained by taking an integrated urban-rural approach to regional development and by focusing on interdependencies and commonalities rather than on differences. Policy documents at the European, national and regional levels are increasingly stressing interdependencies and the move towards regionalization adds to the shift in emphasis towards functional regions rather than to town and country. The paper reports primary research in England into the scale and scope of joint urban-rural collaboration in practice.