Recommendation 68

Community groups have also argued for community ownership of properties on high streets and have proposed initiatives backed by the private sector to help communities raise money to purchase vacant high street properties. They have argued that the lack of capital, fragmented ownership of assets on the high street and the lack of transparency from landlords are key barriers to communities driving change and bringing about the types of places they would like to see on their high streets. 140 Recognising the role that community ownership can play on the high street, the Government has committed to legislating for the community right to buy in the English Devolution Bill. 141