Community Right to Buy is about giving local people the right to own and protect the places that matter to them – from pubs and parks to community centres and sports grounds.
Right now, when these assets are put up for sale, communities are often powerless to stop them being lost. A strong Community Right to Buy would give local people the first chance to step in and take ownership.
For Labour & Co-operative candidates, this is a clear example of local ownership in action – putting power, ownership and wealth back into the hands communities. This briefing explains what Labour and the Co-operative Party are delivering on local ownership, and how you can use it on the doorstep and on social media.
The policy
Right now, when a building or land listed as an Asset of Community Value and goes up for sale, the sale can be paused for up to six months. This is meant to give local community groups time to organise and put together a bid to buy it.
This “Community Right to Bid”, introduced through the Localism Act 2011, has helped some communities save local assets – but it has clear limits. Owners can still sell to whoever they choose, meaning community bids can be ignored or easily outbid by developers. And in reality, six months is often not long enough for communities to put together the money required.
That’s why the Government is proposing a stronger Community Right to Buy as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
Under these plans, communities would have a right of first refusal to buy an asset of community value, at a fair price set by an independent evaluator. Communities would also be given an extended 12 month period to secure the funding. For the first time, automatic protection will also be extended to sports venues: protecting these vital spaces in our communities.
Community ownership is a model we know works: there are already thriving community-owned assets of all kinds, from pubs to sports clubs, in communities across the country. But for these to exist, communities have had to succeed despite the system, not because of it. These changes would shift the balance of power from distant owners and developers to local people – giving communities a real chance to own and shape the places that matter to them.
Doorstep line
When a local pub or community building is put up for sale, local people should get the first chance to buy it – not be pushed out by developers. As your Labour & Co-operative Councillor, I’ll stand up for local ownership and fight to keep these assets in community hands.
The politics
Across the country, communities have watched cherished local spaces disappear – from pubs and libraries to youth clubs and leisure centres. Over the past decade of austerity, thousands of these vital community assets have closed, weakening the social fabric that holds our communities together.
This all comes down to ownership. Ownership shapes who holds power, who makes decisions and who benefits. For too long, the fate of valued community spaces has been decided by distant owners with little connection to the places affected.
Other parties are quick to talk about the loss of local spaces, while still siding with the interests of big developers over local communities. We’re on the side of local people and local communities. Community ownership gives communities the power to step in, take control, and protect the places that matter to them.
This is also a story of delivery. The Community Right to Buy was a key Co-operative Party ask before the election and has been a long-standing campaign for more than a decade – showing how we turn co-operative ideas into real change.
Local ownership in your community
This is a policy that works best when it’s rooted in real local examples. Think about the places your community has lost in recent years – pubs, shops, youth clubs, libraries or community centres – and how things might have been different if local people had the power to step in and save them.
You could also highlight places in your community that may be under threat which would could benefit from community ownership. Are there buildings standing empty or “For sale” signs going up on places people value? Using real local examples will make your case stronger on the doorstep.
Check what has already been listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) in your area. These are places your community has already said matter. Under a Labour government, these assets are getting stronger protections and you should highlight that in your campaigning.
If there are valued local places that don’t yet have ACV status, you can work with residents and community groups to get them listed. This is a practical step you can take now to help protect places in your community.
The role of Local Government
Local councils can support the empowerment of their local communities through a range of proactive actions, giving communities the support and tools they need to drive real change. Councillors can play a pivotal role in ensuring community groups can identify, purchase and operate community businesses which serve the needs of local residents. The new Pride in Place funding will be an important part in enabling new community-led projects across the country.
Manifesto ideas
Here's some ideas that you could include in your local manifesto. To find out more, use our "Build your own Co-operative Manifesto" tool.
- Support the listing and registration of Assets of Community Value (ACVs) by community groups.
- Ensure community ownership development forms part of local economic development strategies.
- Facilitate community purchase of Assets of Community Value through community share offers (CSOs).
- Use Pride in Place funding for targeted community-owned asset and business development projects.
Campaign lines
If you're looking for campaign lines to use on the doorstep or in your leaflets, here's some ideas below.
- Across the country, communities have watched cherished local spaces disappear — from pubs and libraries to youth clubs and leisure centres.
- Over the past decade, thousands of these vital community assets have closed, weakening the social fabric that holds our communities together.
- This all comes down to ownership. Ownership shapes who holds power, who makes decisions and who benefits.
- For too long, the fate of valued community spaces has been decided by distant owners with little connection to the places affected.
- The Community Right to Buy changes that — shifting power and ownership back to local people.
- By giving local people stronger rights to step in and buy valued community spaces, we can keep more assets owned and rooted in our communities.
- It’s a model we know works — there are already thriving community-owned assets of all kinds, from pubs to sports clubs. But for these to exist, communities have had to succeed despite the system, not because of it.
- Labour is changing that — putting power, ownership and opportunity back into the hands of local people.
Example Facebook post
When a local pub, community centre, or sports ground goes up for sale, local people should get first chance to buy it – not developers.
Right now, the law gives communities six months to organise a bid. But owners can still sell to the highest bidder.
The Community Right to Buy changes that. Under the Government's English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, communities will get 12 months and the right of first refusal at a fair, independently assessed price.
As your Labour & Co-operative candidate, I'll fight to make sure [AREA] keeps the spaces that matter to us in local hands.
Example Instagram post
Local pubs. Community centres. Sports grounds.
When they go up for sale, local people should get first chance to buy them – not developers.
The Community Right to Buy does exactly that.
[AREA] deserves local ownership. I'll use every tool to deliver it.Example X post
When a local pub or community centre goes up for sale, communities can only bid and hope.
The Community Right to Buy fixes that, giving communities right of first refusal, more time, and a fair price.
[AREA] deserves local ownership. I'll use every tool to deliver it.Example Bluesky post
The Labour Government are introducing a Community Right to Buy, giving communities the chance to buy local assets when they're in danger of being sold off.
[AREA] deserves local ownership. Vote for me and I'll help deliver it.
Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ, United Kingdom. Co-operative Party Limited is a registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered no. 30027R.
Draft social media posts
Here's some sample posts you could include on social media.