Government promises new powers for communities as part of ‘Pride in Place’ programme

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said these powers included:

• Community Right to Buy: “handing local people the power to buy beloved assets, helping them turn around derelict pubs, create new parks and regenerate treasured spaces in the heart of their communities”.  
• Compulsory Purchase powers: “allowing communities in England to acquire assets and eyesores like boarded up shops and derelict abandoned businesses, allowing new local start-ups to thrive. For larger sites – like disused department stores or abandoned office blocks – it could even see new health centres opening up, or local housing to help reach our target of 1.5 million homes.”
• Power to block unwanted shops: “empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers”.

The MHCLG said it would only approve spending under the programme if community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included by ‘Pride in Place’ boards in decisions on how the money should be spent – “putting real power in local hands and giving them a proper say over their community”.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: “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.”