Community Right to Buy becomes law, opening new opportunities for co-operative ownership

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, introducing a package of measures designed to devolve power, strengthen local economies and give communities more say over the places where they live and work.

At the heart of the Act is a new Community Right to Buy, which will give local people the first right of refusal when important community assets, such as shops, pubs, community centres and other local spaces, are put up for sale.

Co-operatives UK said the measure could help more communities take ownership of the assets that matter to them, particularly where local services are at risk of closure or private sale.

James Wright, Policy and Development Lead at Co-operatives UK, said: “This is a landmark moment for community ownership. The new Community Right to Buy will significantly increase opportunities for communities to organise, raise finance and acquire the assets that matter to them.

“Across the UK, co-operatives and community benefit societies have shown that when local people own and control the places and services they depend on, those assets are more likely to stay rooted in the community and run for local benefit. But the impact will be greatest if a diversity of communities can access the development support, finance and expert advice they need to exercise these new rights. With our partners, we are making that case to government."

The new right is expected to strengthen the route from community campaigning to community ownership. It could be particularly relevant for communities seeking to protect valued local assets by setting up community benefit societies, co-operatives or other democratic ownership models.

Co-operatives UK has long supported communities to form co-operatives and community benefit societies, including through advice on governance, legal structures, registration, community shares and member ownership.

The Act also introduces wider measures affecting local places and high streets. These include new powers to help councils manage the spread of gambling shops, a ban on upwards-only rent review clauses in new and renewal commercial leases, new national standards for taxi drivers, powers to tackle dangerous pavement parking and new licensing powers for rental e-bikes.

The legislation also creates a new category of Strategic Authorities, designed to make it easier to devolve powers from Whitehall to local areas, particularly around transport, planning, housing and economic regeneration.