The government has announced a significant new package aimed at protecting valued community spaces across the country, making it easier for local people to step in and save pubs, shops and other high street venues from closure. A £61 million Community Right to Buy Fund will provide financial support to communities, particularly in more deprived areas, so they can take ownership of places that matter most to them.
This initiative forms part of Labour’s wider Pride in Place programme, which is focused on revitalising high streets and strengthening community ties. By giving people the resources to act when a much loved local asset is at risk, the scheme ensures that important social hubs can continue to serve their communities for years to come. Taken together with other measures, the fund sits within a broader £301 million commitment to support high streets and community spaces nationwide.
This approach also builds on powers introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. These changes are designed to move decision making closer to local people, giving communities greater control over their own future and the places they depend on. Rather than seeing valued venues disappear, residents now have a clearer pathway to step in, take ownership and shape how these spaces are run.
The importance of community ownership is already clear here in Hull. The New Clarence pub stands as a successful example of what can be achieved when local people come together. When the pub faced being turned into a House in Multiple Occupation, something many residents did not want, the community stepped in to save it. Their efforts ensured the building remained a pub, and somewhere the local community could enjoy.
Today, the New Clarence is once again a thriving local pub, demonstrating the positive impact that community ownership can have. It has not only safeguarded a valued part of Hull’s local heritage but also reinforced the sense of identity and connection among residents. This success story highlights the potential of the new fund to replicate similar outcomes across the country.
By backing community ownership, the government is recognising the vital role that pubs, shops and shared spaces play in everyday life. These are not just businesses but places where people meet, support one another and build stronger communities. With dedicated funding now available, more local groups will have the opportunity to protect and revitalise the places that matter most to them.