The Community Ownership Fund was set up in 2021. £150 million was made available to assist neighbourhood groups in taking ownership of important local assets, such as music venues, theatres, museums, parks, cinemas and, of course, pubs, which might otherwise have been sold for redevelopment or converted to another use. In December, a final round of grants worth £36 million was awarded for 85 projects, including 35 community centres, eight pubs and eight parks. The Government then announced that the scheme, originally due to run until March, was to close early, with the unallocated £15 million being transferred to other budgets. A total of 409 projects had been funded in all. The fund had little impact in London because of the way that the property market operates here but I’m sure that no-one would begrudge a village its pub.
The Government has said that there will be no further funding but they are intending to introduce a community right to buy scheme covering the same type of properties. This is part of the English Devolution programme. It is welcome but CAMRA takes the view that the scheme will not work unless the Government continues to provide some funding. The chair of CAMRA’s Planning Advisory Group, Paul Ainsworth, explained, “Having thriving pubs at the heart of community life can be a key part of the government’s mission to have vibrant communities and thriving local economies. There are now more than 200 community-owned pubs in the country and this has proved to be a remarkably successful model, with previously struggling pubs now popular and successful enterprises – pubs for the people by the people. Ministers have already announced they are going to introduce a community right to buy for assets like pubs that are under threat of closure or conversion. This is very welcome and is set to be a gamechanger for people wanting to save their pub. However, it is vital that, as well as a right to buy community assets, groups can also access advice, support and funding to help make sure bids to take over pubs as community-owned businesses can be successful, securing the pub at the heart of community life for decades to come.”

CAMRA will continue to work with politicians and officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as the new policy is developed. This may include reviewing the status of Assets of Community Value. The draft legislation is however not likely to appear for some months.