FARMERS in North Yorkshire are being urged to bid for a slice of nearly £1m earmarked for rural business development in the county.

The funding is available through development agency Yorkshire Forward to convert redundant buildings for modern business purposes.

The redundant building grant (RBG) will make £900,000 available this year - twice as much as originally planned by the Government - to help regenerate the rural economy

The scheme has already proved successful with jobs being created at a project in Ebberston where a redundant agricultural building is being converted into a workspace for furniture design and manufacture.

Grants have also been awarded to similar projects in Askrigg, near Leyburn, and at Aske stately home, near Richmond, where a scheme to restore a late Victorian stable block to its former glory, whilst providing 20,000 square feet of business units has just been completed.

Andy Wallhead, area development manager for Yorkshire Forward, said: "This is an extremely valuable extra source of funding to help create new new uses for redundant buildings which could generate new enterprises or accommodation.

"Applications are welcome from people from all rural areas, including farmers."

For a building to qualify for RBG assistance it must be completely unused or unusable in its current state. Once the works are completed the building must be used for business purposes, though not for agricultural or horticultural use.

Yorkshire Forward is doubling its efforts to ensure farmers and other landowners are able to access the fund before the deadline, set for September 30.

Applications will be considered from individuals, partnerships, limited companies, co-operatives or charitable trusts as either owners or tenants.

For details call Claire Jackson on (01904) 693335.

Yorkshire Forward will unveil next week how its plans to use the £1.3bn regeneration package received from the Government to benefit communities across the county.