Rural Solutions is pleased to announce it is the principal sponsor of the Local Government Association Annual Rural Conference for 2008. The conference this year will showcase the rural perspective on some of the most significant issues being debated across local government including Eco Towns and responding to climate change challenges.

The conference, 10 September 2008, at Colwick Hall in Nottingham will address a range of particular concerns for rural areas, such as the impact of immigration and integration on rural service provision and the Rural Development Programme for England and consider how councils can best address them working with local organisations and local people.

Dr Michael McCarthy, Rural Solutions’ Managing Director said

"As a rural regeneration consultancy immersed for the some years in the challenge to ensure rural communities remain socially diverse, economically vibrant, inclusive and sustainable, Rural Solutions welcomes the opportunity to support a timely and informative conference focusing on issues which affect the future viability of our villages and market towns."

Rural Solutions is pleased support the LGA's Annual Rural Conference which is the key event for rural policy and decision-makers in local government. The conference provides a unique opportunity for elected members and senior officers from across the county to debate, exchange views and challenge each other on how councils should be leading their rural communities. Over 300 delegates are expected to attend.

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Notes to Editors

Rural Solutions:
Unlocking value from redundant or under-used land and buildings - Rural Solutions is an award winning national rural regeneration company engaged in the development of rural land and buildings to secure a variety of viable and sustainable uses. The main body of work is development projects which generate income and capital growth for land and property owners provide services for occupiers supported by appropriate sustainable regeneration for rural communities.

Rural Solutions has already been involved in an advisory or outright delivery roll, from 'Concept-to-Completion', in over 300 initiatives.

Today the Rural Solutions’ service has grown considerably, with feasibility and business plans now incorporating the arts, education, healthcare, retail, tourism, youth, alternative energy and recycling projects.

The company has offices in Skipton, Yorkshire (Tel: 01756 799955, Email: info@ruralsolutions.co.uk) and in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Tel: 01242 530276, Email: info@ruralsolutions.co.uk). Find out more at www.ruralsolutions.co.uk.

Rural Solutions has built up an impressive track record in releasing the value of land and buildings, particularly with regard to the development of rural business parks, village business centres and business homes in and out of town locations. It operates throughout the UK.

Rural Solutions is owned by Accent Group, one of the UK’s leading housing providers, developing housing, health, and regeneration and education services for over 20,000 people across the country. Following successful merger partnerships with Nene Housing Society (now Accent Nene) and Peerless Housing Group (now Accent Peerless), the Group acquired Rural Solutions in May 2005 to compliment their urban regeneration work. Accent has XXX an alliance with London based consortia Network Housing Group and established a pioneering partnership agreement with Shelter. The Group employs some 800 people nationwide. As Accent does not have any shareholders it has the ability to reinvest money back into the communities in which it operates.

LGA:
The Local Government Association (LGA), formed on 1 April 1997, promotes the interests of English and Welsh local authorities - a total of just under 500. These represent over 50 million people and spend around £74 billion a year on local services.

The LGA exists to promote better local government. We work with and for our member authorities to realise a shared vision of local government that enables local people to shape a distinctive and better future for their locality and its communities. We aim to put local councils at the heart of the drive to improve public services and to work with government to ensure that the policy, legislative and financial context in which they operate, supports that objective.

Based in Westminster, close to the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall, the LGA is a voluntary lobbying organisation. Our members include county councils, metropolitan district councils, English unitary authorities, London boroughs, shire district councils and Welsh unitary authorities. We also represent fire authorities, police authorities, national park authorities and passenger transport authorities.

Further information:
Conference Details can be found at www.lga.gov.uk or by Email confs-organisation@lga.gov.uk

Dr MICHAEL MCCARTHY, Managing Director, Rural Solutions – Tel. 01756 799955, 01242 530276, Email. michaelmccarthy@ruralsolutions.co.uk

CHRISTIAN WALKER, Rural Solutions PR/Marketing Co-ordination – Tel. 01242 268071, Mob. 07809 388005, Email. christianwalker@ruralsolutions.co.uk