Local communities across England are set to gain new powers and financial backing to take control of at-risk pubs, shops and other high street staples, as part of a £61 million government initiative aimed at reviving local areas.
Announced by Communities Secretary Steve Reed at a speech in London, the Community Right to Buy Fund forms a key part of the government’s wider Pride in Place programme. The funding is designed to support communities – particularly in more deprived areas – to step in and purchase valued local assets that might otherwise face closure.
The scheme sits within a broader £301 million package targeted at strengthening high streets and community spaces, and follows legislative changes under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, which aim to shift more decision-making power from central government into local hands.
The initiative reflects a growing policy emphasis on community ownership and grassroots decision-making. By providing financial support to enable local groups to purchase and manage key assets, ministers hope to preserve vital services, maintain social cohesion and ensure economic resilience at the local level.
Speaking at the announcement, Steve Reed said:
“I am pushing power out of Whitehall and into the hands of the people who actually use these high streets. They know what they need better than any politician in Whitehall.
“We’re backing communities to step in and save these high street gems, building on our drive to give communities the key to their own future and power over what matters to them.”
Alongside the new fund, the government outlined a series of additional reforms designed to strengthen community empowerment and improve public service delivery:
- Streamlining Right to Manage
Measures will make it easier for social housing tenants to take control of the management of their homes and estates. This includes stronger enforcement where serious mismanagement threatens resident safety, and encouragement for landlords to actively support tenant participation. - £10 million Test, Learn and Grow Capability Fund
Targeting up to 20 areas initially, this fund will support regional collaboration and innovation in public service delivery. The programme aims to build on existing pilots, with a focus on scaling up successful approaches across mayoral authorities and groups of councils. - Community Power Pilots
Up to 25 areas will benefit from £15 million in funding to redesign local services with direct resident involvement, helping tailor provision more closely to community needs. - Tackling profiteering in key sectors
The government has committed to working with London councils to compare pricing in temporary accommodation markets, as well as addressing cost pressures in children’s social care – both areas where rising costs have placed significant strain on local authority budgets. - Improving data sharing across government
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will introduce standardised data-sharing agreements to reduce bureaucratic barriers and enable more joined-up service delivery between central and local government.
These measures form part of a wider £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme, which is intended to rebalance power structures and give communities a stronger voice in shaping their local environments.
For public sector leaders, the announcement signals a continuing shift towards devolution, co-production of services, and community-led asset management. Local authorities are likely to play a pivotal role in supporting community groups to access funding, navigate acquisitions, and ensure long-term sustainability of purchased assets.
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