The English devolution White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to work in partnership with communities, to transfer power out of Westminster and put local decisions back in the hands of the people affected by them. The loss in recent years of shared community forums, places and institutions—whether it be local news outlets, community cafés, youth clubs, pubs, historic buildings, libraries or sport facilities—has eroded a sense of local civic pride and contributed to a feeling of decline in neighbourhoods and high streets. The Government’s approach to community empowerment will focus on putting people in control of these important assets. We will create new opportunities for communities to have a say in the future of their area and play a part in improving it, while acknowledging that this means nothing if people are not supported to contribute to this decision-making.
We recognise that community groups play a crucial role in promoting social cohesion and providing services which improve health and wellbeing, reduce anti-social behaviour, protect nature and offer support to groups in need. That is why, despite the difficult financial circumstances that we have inherited from the previous Government, we have taken the decision to prioritise funding for community ownership. On 23 December 2024, during the Christmas recess, we announced the outcome of round 4 of the community ownership fund (COF), with 85 projects from across the UK receiving £36.2 million in funding. This represents the largest ever COF announcement to date.
Projects such as Elmfield Hall in Lancashire, St Dunstan’s House in Glastonbury, Caerphilly rugby football club in Wales and the Mourne mountain rescue base and education centre in Northern Ireland, have been awarded the crucial funding that will keep them in the hands of the communities they serve.
A total of £25.5 million has been awarded to 57 projects in England, £5 million has been awarded to 11 projects in Scotland, £2.1 million has been awarded to seven projects in Wales and £3.7 million has been awarded to 10 projects in Northern Ireland.
The community ownership fund is now closed. There will be no further application windows on the COF programme. We have taken this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous Government.
While we are closing the community ownership fund, this Government remain committed to the communities’ sector and community empowerment. We will deliver on the manifesto commitment to replace the community “right to bid” with a strengthened “right to buy” assets of community value, creating a more robust pathway to community asset ownership. And we will seek to support high streets by strengthening business improvement districts, which have helped to improve town and city centres across the United Kingdom for 20 years, while ensuring they operate to high standards and are accountable to their communities.
We have also implemented new high street rental auction regulations, providing local communities and businesses with a right to rent premises that have long sat vacant, casting a cloud over the local area. The power will help to provide new shops and community spaces, supporting businesses and communities to access the high street and create vibrant, bustling spaces they can be proud of.
We encourage any community groups seeking funding to preserve community assets, including those who may have submitted an expression of interest (EOI) in the community ownership fund but did not submit a full application, to continue to use the guidance and tools available through our development support provider on the MyCommunity site. These tools have been designed to help any organisation seeking to save an asset that is important to them and their local community and will remain available beyond the COF programme. The development support provider may also be able to help to suggest alternative sources of funding that organisations could look to secure.
Building on plans outlined in the English devolution White Paper, there will be further announcements relating to communities in the new year, including on the community ownership of assets.
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