Right to Buy Reform Could Save Rural Pubs and Shops

A community’s right to buy a local asset or business was announced in Parliament last week and welcomed by rural community business charity Plunkett UK.

As part of the English Devolution Bill set out in the House of Commons, it will become easier for local ownership groups to take control of assets such as pubs, shops and social hubs through a new Community Right to Buy.

Plunkett UK, a charity which supports rural community groups take ownership and run businesses as co-operative share owners, had been campaigning vociferously for the rights of communities to be enshrined into law and the charity’s Chief Executive James Alcock welcomed the news:

"We are delighted that Ministers have listened to Plunkett UK and others in introducing a strengthened community right to buy. This has the potential to save many businesses in rural areas which would otherwise be closed or turned into accommodation. Britain’s pubs for example are facing an economic crisis, and it is the community-ownership model which can save many of them. We believe this is a promising first step for community empowerment. We will look closely at the detail and the processes that will be proposed as the legislation develops, but believe that this progress needs to go hand-in-hand with grant support funding. We welcome feedback on this from Plunkett UK Members".

The Government had pledged to introduce a community right to buy in the Labour manifesto. Today’s announcement states that communities will have the first opportunity to purchase local assets when they are put up for sale and be given an extended 12-month period to raise funding. Local authorities will have more decision-making powers during the process of community-owned takeovers of local businesses.