A £61m fund has been established to encourage people to save treasured local assets, such as pubs. It has been announced by government as part of a set of reforms to put more power in the hands of communities.
Communities secretary Steve Reed announced the investment at a speech in London yesterday (pictured). It’s part of a package of measures, building on wider reforms in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, to allow people to take over treasured assets.
The funding is part of the £301 million announced by the government to support high streets and community spaces.
The announcement has been welcomed by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). It lobbied government to reinstate funding allowing community groups to take ownership of their much-needed pubs after the previous Community Ownership Fund was axed in 2024.
“The number of community-owned pubs opening has noticeably slowed down over the last year,” said Paul Ainsworth, national planning policy adviser at CAMRA. “This is undoubtedly connected to the demise of the Community Ownership Fund, which made it much harder for locals to raise cash to save their pub.
“Without suitable and accessible funding, many community groups were simply priced out of trying to save their local from oblivion. We are awaiting the full details, but the news of this new funding looks set to be a vital lifeline for many pubs which are under threat of closure or conversion.
“Vibrant communities and flourishing local economies depend on pubs not only surviving but thriving. Community ownership is a fantastic pathway to securing a pub at the heart of community life for decades to come — a pub run by the people, for the people.”
