Cheshire named best county for rural businesses

Cheshire is the best county in which to launch a rural business venture, according to a new study.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents rural enterprises and farmers across the UK, found that Cheshire was better able to support businesses in rural areas than other counties.

The CLA assessed a number of factors in each county, including planning policies, business support and the availability of broadband.

Henry Robinson, the organisation’s president, said: “Operating in a rural area brings opportunities but also challenges, and in this table, we shine a light on some of the main factors that can help a business to succeed.

“Top of the list is connectivity because the pressures of running a rural business can be compounded by the availability of mobile and broadband coverage in the most remote areas. The government, councils and network providers need to place an emphasis on this if businesses are to operate on a day-to-day basis.”

He added: “Businesses need space to update buildings and our table rates the performance of planning authorities, on whether they are permitting or refusing applications to convert and change buildings.”

In recent months, Cheshire has seen the widespread rollout of superfast broadband to support businesses in the county.

Connecting Cheshire, a £28.5m project, has already seen over 80k businesses and homes provided with fibre broadband. By the end of 2015, around 400k premises (about 96% of the county) will have access to high-speed broadband.

A second phase of the rollout scheme, costing £6m, will aim to increase coverage to 98% by 2017.

Nantwich-based business Aqueduct Marina is owned by Robert Parton, a member of the CLA. He said of the study’s results: “I’m not surprised. Cheshire really is open to business.

“We have every confidence that we can continue to develop in what will remain a thriving Cheshire rural business environment.”