Local communities across the UK are set to gain unprecedented powers to transform their high streets, reclaim derelict buildings, and create new spaces for young people, thanks to the launch of the Pride in Place programme.
Unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the initiative is backed by record investment and will support over 330 communities in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It forms a key part of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at tackling deep-rooted deprivation and restoring local pride.
Key features of the Pride in Place Programme include:
- Community Right to Buy: Local people can purchase beloved assets like pubs, parks, and libraries to regenerate community spaces.
- Compulsory Purchase Powers: Communities can acquire boarded-up shops and abandoned buildings, paving the way for new housing, health centres, or local businesses.
- Power to Block Unwanted Shops: Councils can reject applications for betting shops, vape stores, and fake barbers to protect the character of local high streets.
- Community-Led Spending: Funding decisions will only be approved if local groups, clubs, and organisations are involved—ensuring real power is placed in local hands.
Steve Reed, the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, commented:
“When people step out of their front doors, they know their communities are struggling. They see shuttered pubs, fading high streets and their local areas in decline.
“Yes, communities have been stretched – but they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to make things better, and we’re backing them.
“The Government is putting power into their hands so local people decide how best to restore pride in their neighbourhoods, not us in Westminster.
“That’s what real patriotism looks like: building up our communities and choosing renewal over division.”
The programme will also work with devolved governments to tailor region-specific strategies, with further details on support for Northern Ireland, including Belfast, to follow.
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