Grant News

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced a new £61 million Community Right to Buy Fund to help local people protect pubs, shops and other community assets at risk of closure. The department is responsible for housing, communities, local government and local growth policy in England.

The fund is part of a wider £301 million package to support high streets, community spaces and local control. It also sits within the government’s wider Pride in Place programme, which is intended to give communities more power and funding to shape their local areas.

The Community Right to Buy Fund will support people in deprived areas to step in and take over valued local assets that may otherwise be lost. This could include assets such as pubs, shops and community centres that provide important social, economic or local services.

Further measures announced alongside the fund include:

• a £10 million Test, Learn and Grow Capability Fund to support up to 20 places;
• £15 million for Community Power Pilots in up to 25 areas;
• reforms to help social housing tenants take more control over homes and estates.

The announcement confirms the funding package but does not yet provide detailed application guidance, grant sizes, eligibility criteria or deadlines for the Community Right to Buy Fund. Further information is expected is due course to clarify how communities and local organisations can apply.