Rural development in Wales: looking backwards, looking forwards

Abstract

Compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, Wales’ rural areas are more important, and also quite markedly different. This article examines a few lessons that should have been learned about rural development policy, and speculates about possible directions for its future development. It begins by deconstructing some potent myths about rural development that act as barriers to achieving spatial justice in Wales. Discussion then turns to how to establish more nuanced principles for policy development and possible choices for implementation beyond 2019.