Cumbria to be included in new Uplands Transformation project after joint push from county’s Labour MPs

Cumbria is set to be included in a new national Uplands Transformation project following months of joint work by the county’s Labour MPs with ministers and leading experts, alongside a wider package of measures to support farmers and rural communities.

The project, following work led by social entrepreneur Dr Hilary Cottam for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will trial a new network-based approach to supporting upland communities.

After initial work on Dartmoor, it will expand into Cumbria later this year, recognising the unique challenges facing upland farming and the rural communities that depend on it.

The announcement follows sustained engagement by Cumbria’s Labour MPs – Josh MacAlister, Julie Minns, and Michelle Scrogham – working with ministers to ensure Cumbria’s voice is heard and the county is included as the programme develops.

The Uplands Transformation project builds on feedback from farmers and upland communities over the past year.

Dr Cottam was hosted by MPs in Cumbria last summer and met with farmers, agriculture businesses and nature and environmental charities to discuss the potential of Cumbria’s inclusion in the project.

Over the next two years, it will focus on delivering practical, system-wide, change that will be led by local people who understand best how to solve the problems they are facing. 

The project will provide support to grassroots initiatives creating stronger farming clusters, exploring new mutual funding models, and laying the foundations for additional income streams, from nature-based enterprises to regenerative tourism and circular economy initiatives.

Alongside the uplands work, the government has announced a wider package of measures for farmers, including:

• Reforms to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to cut complexity and prioritise smaller farms
• A three-year extension to the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme
• New funding to support farmer-led advice, collaboration and peer-to-peer learning

Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven & Workington, said: “Cumbria’s uplands are central to our farming economy, our landscapes and our rural communities – but they face pressures that national policy hasn’t always understood.

“I’ve been working closely with ministers and with Dr Hilary Cottam to make sure Cumbria is part of this work from the start.

“This is about backing local networks, like the farmer-led West Lakeland CIC in my constituency, building practical solutions with farmers, and moving away from one-size-fits-all schemes.

“It’s a step towards more certainty, less bureaucracy, and support that actually works on the ground.”

Julie Minns, MP for Carlisle and North Cumbria, said: “I warmly welcome these announcements.

“They show a real shift towards working with farmers and giving them the clarity, stability and practical support they need.

“The extension of Farming in Protected Landscapes and the reforms to SFI will bring tangible benefits, especially for smaller and family farms.

“Including Cumbria in the upland’s transformation work is a major boost for the county and a strong signal that our rural communities and the future of farming are a priority.’’

Michelle Scrogham, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “From the fells to our coastal and industrial communities, Cumbria’s economy is deeply connected to farming and land management.

“Ensuring our local farmers are at the heart of how those decisions are made will support jobs, local supply chains, and the future of our rural areas.

“This package – especially the focus on collaboration, farmer-led advice and peer-to-peer learning – reflects what farmers have been asking for.

“It’s about building resilience for the long term, not short-term fixes.”

Further details on the Sustainable Farming Incentive will be published ahead of the next application window.

Work on the Uplands Transformation project will continue to develop over the coming months, with local MPs and communities kept closely involved as plans progress.