Whilst preparing for the introduction of the Pride in Place Programme (PIPP), local authorities and all those involved must take the opportunity to learn from past regeneration programmes. 

The Pride in Place (PIP) Strategy is the Government’s flagship policy for community-led regeneration to create safer, healthier neighbourhoods, where communities can thrive. A total of £5 billion of funding has been committed to various programmes, including the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund. The programme will run for 10 years and aims to strengthen community leadership and local involvement. 

Coming in phases 

75 communities have been selected to receive funding under phase 1 of the PIPP, with a further 169 neighbourhoods in phase 2 and another 40 (as yet unspecified) areas in phase 3 announced just last week. The relevant local authorities (LAs) and all those involved will be eager to put it to good use. Capital payments from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) for Phase 2 of the PIPP are also due to be paid to Neighbourhood Boards at around the same time.

Lessons from the past

To ensure that the PIPP is as effective as possible, policymakers and LAs should take a close look at previous regeneration initiatives, including the New Deal for Communities (NDC) Programme, which closed in 2011. Another Government-backed, community-focused initiative, the NDC provided funding for deprived neighbourhoods in England between 2000 and 2011, the benefits of which are still being felt today. 

Learnings from the NDC programme have informed the constitution of the new Neighbourhood Boards. For example, there is a new role for MPs, who were rarely formally included in NDC partnerships, and there is a key role for independent chairs to bring together the various stakeholders. It is also welcome to see the strong emphasis on local involvement on the Neighbourhood Board, and the broader requirement for robust engagement with the community. 

Looking ahead to Year 3 of the programme, community leadership is set to be prioritised further. Previously, partnerships that prioritised long-term legacy issues early on were shown to be in a better position than those that did not. Therefore, it makes sense for Neighbourhood Boards to engage with community anchor organisations where they exist. If no such organisation exists, then forming a legacy vehicle early in the process will help sustain real change. 

There are important lessons for policymakers, too. For example, setting hard deadlines for spending funding can cause problems, potentially leading to money being misdirected. Ensuring programme continuity is also key, so that any new community spaces and initiatives can provide benefits to local communities beyond the life of the programme. There is much learning and food for thought in ‘No Short Cuts’, the major report from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods.

People have power

For regeneration projects to truly benefit communities in the long term, the involvement of local people is vital. It’s good to see that the prospectus for the PIPP includes reference to community organising, building on the positive work done through the programme run by the Coalition Government from 2011 to 2015. A community-led approach allows for much deeper and more impactful engagement, ensuring better outcomes for all. 

There is much for each local authority – and each neighbourhood – to consider as the PIPP gets underway.  Making sure there is strong community engagement, a robust and diverse Neighbourhood Board which is community-led, and a clear sustainability strategy from the start, will help to make the regeneration vision a reality. 

Key takeaways

• The Pride in Place Programme is set to release its first phase of funding in April 2026.
• For the Programme to reach its full potential, lessons from previous initiatives, including the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme, should be considered by local authorities and policymakers.
• Councils should engage with established community organisations, where they exist, to improve outcomes in the long term.
• Local involvement must be prioritised at every stage.  

For more guidance and support with the Pride in Place Programme, please contact me.