UK Pride In Place Funds Empower Local Communities

On February 5, 2026, the UK Government unveiled a sweeping new phase of its Pride in Place programme, pledging over £180 million in regeneration funding for communities across England and Wales. The initiative aims to restore pride, create jobs, and empower local residents to reshape their own neighbourhoods, with a special emphasis on areas that have long felt overlooked or left behind.

In a bold move, nine Welsh neighbourhoods were selected to each receive up to £20 million over the next decade, as reported by Business News Wales. The funding, which totals £180 million, will be distributed among local authorities such as Blaenau Gwent’s Sirhowy Valley, Caerphilly’s Bargoed, Aberbargoed and New Tredegar, Cardiff’s Ely & Caerau, Carmarthenshire’s Llanelli, Conwy’s Llandudno, Neath Port Talbot’s Upper Afan Valley, Newport’s city centre, Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Rhondda Fach, and Swansea’s High Street and Dyfatty. Each of these communities will see the creation of Neighbourhood Boards—groups made up of local residents and stakeholders—who will determine exactly how the funds are spent, with the first allocations rolling out from April 2026.

According to Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, “We are directly backing our communities with this significant investment. People living in these areas are in control of this funding and now have the support to make them even better places to live and work.” Stevens emphasized that the programme is a core part of the government’s commitment to jobs, prosperity, and growth, and that the investment is being made in partnership with the Welsh Government to build “stronger, thriving neighbourhoods.”

The scope of eligible projects is wide, ranging from revitalizing high streets and preserving local heritage to providing new housing, creating jobs, improving health and well-being, and even enhancing local transport links and education opportunities. As an added boost, every local authority in Wales will receive a share of an additional £34.5 million in capital funding to improve public spaces—think fixing broken bus shelters, reopening park toilets, adding more bins to curb litter, and revamping aging leisure centres.

The Pride in Place programme isn’t limited to Wales. In Nechells, Birmingham, £20 million is being invested following persistent campaigning by local MP Shabana Mahmood and Councillor Lee Marsham. During a recent roundtable, Mahmood welcomed the funding, which she described as a direct response to community needs. “One of the things that happens when you win a general election and you’re suddenly in the Cabinet of this country is you realise where decisions get made. And the system that you inherit has been used to making decisions a particular way, and then you’re along as a new party to do things differently,” Mahmood said at the event, according to her official website. She went on to stress her commitment to “deliver for the people that put me there and for the great city that is my home.”

The Nechells funding, part of the same nationwide programme, is designed to be spent on high streets, parks, and public spaces, with residents leading the decision-making process. At the roundtable, local organizations such as Nechells Pod and Free@Last participated, ensuring that the voices of those who live and work in the community are heard.

Meanwhile, Worcester City Council announced plans to set up a resident-led board to oversee the allocation of its own £20 million Pride in Place grant, specifically targeted at the Warndon West area. According to the BBC, discussions to form the board are scheduled to begin on February 10, 2026, and the group will be tasked with managing the funds over a ten-year period. The board, to be established by June, will comprise at least eight members who either live or work in Warndon West. Local MP Tom Collins will also sit on the board, acting as a champion for the community.

Collins explained, “Pride in Place is about putting power in the hands of local people to shape where they live. Anyone who lives in Warndon knows that in lots of ways the area has been left behind. This is about changing that for good, by putting money and power in the hands of local people.” The approach is echoed in Kidderminster, where Wyre Forest District Council is creating a similar board to oversee funding for neighbourhoods such as Birchen Coppice, Rifle Range, Foley Park, and Silverwoods. The council called the opportunity “once-in-a-generation,” with applications for the chair role open until March 7, and interviews scheduled for the end of that month.

Further north, Derby City Council is poised to accept over £20 million in Pride in Place investment at its next Cabinet meeting on February 11, 2026. The proposals include a £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) to support immediate improvements in the city centre—aligned with Derby’s emerging Public Realm Strategy—and up to £10 million for long-term regeneration in Chaddesden West, to be distributed over ten years starting in April 2026. The funding aims to invest in community facilities, enhance public spaces, and create attractive, welcoming high streets.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Strategy, Regeneration and Policy, described the funding as “an incredible opportunity to invest in the places that matter most to our communities, both in the city centre and in Chaddesden West.” She added, “Through both funding programmes, we can work together to build stronger communities and create thriving places that will help people to feel proud of where they live. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for residents’ voices to be at the centre of change for their communities.”

If approved, Derby’s Neighbourhood Board will be led by an independent chair, recruited by Catherine Atkinson, Member of Parliament for Derby North, and will include local residents, community organizations, businesses, and public sector partners. The board will set priorities, oversee delivery, and develop a shared 10-year vision for Chaddesden West, ensuring that regeneration efforts are rooted in the needs and aspirations of the community.

Across all these regions, the unifying thread is a shift towards resident-led decision-making—a marked departure from top-down approaches of the past. Whether in the valleys of Wales, the urban heart of Birmingham, or the historic city of Derby, local people are being handed both the purse strings and the power to shape their future. The boards being formed are not mere advisory panels; they will have real authority over how millions of pounds are spent, from revitalizing high streets to supporting local heritage and boosting job prospects.

Community leaders, councillors, and MPs from across the political spectrum have welcomed the Pride in Place programme as a chance to address deep-rooted inequalities and deliver visible, lasting improvements. While the process of decision-making will be complex—balancing diverse local priorities and ensuring transparency—there’s a palpable sense of optimism that, this time, regeneration will be driven by those who know their communities best.

As funding begins to flow in April 2026, all eyes will be on these neighbourhoods to see just how transformative local empowerment can be. The hope, as echoed by leaders and residents alike, is that this investment will do more than just repair buildings or spruce up parks—it will help restore pride, opportunity, and a sense of belonging in communities that have waited far too long.