Committee publication · Correspondence · 26 November 2025
Letter to the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities relating to support for high streets and town centres, 13 November 2025
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: Small business strategy
Summary
The Business and Trade Committee Chair writes to the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities requesting information on government support for high streets and town centres, as part of an inquiry into small business strategy. The letter poses eight questions covering community ownership funding, vacant property identification, community covenants, brownfield redevelopment viability, public realm investment, compulsory purchase reform, Growth Hub integration, and mayoral local growth plan resources.
Key findings
- Committee seeks clarity on how community enterprises will be supported following closure of the Community Ownership Fund and under new devolution bill powers
- Questions whether MHCLG has analysed barriers to identifying beneficial owners of vacant high street properties
- Asks for assessment of 'community covenants' effectiveness and potential for wider adoption as collaboration mechanism
- Identifies viability constraints reported by developers and local authorities in brownfield town centre redevelopment as requiring departmental response
- Seeks detail on government's post-Pride in Place strategy for encouraging public and private realm investment and compulsory purchase power reform
- Queries allocation of central oversight responsibility for Growth Hub quality and local growth plan monitoring under devolution framework
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Miatta Fahnbulleh MP (Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities), Business and Trade Committee, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Business and Trade, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Mayoral Combined Authorities
Notable line
“What assessment has your Department made of the effectiveness of initiatives like 'community covenants' in improving collaboration between developers, local authorities and community groups?”
Key Quotes
“A significant part of this work has been to consider the current barriers and opportunities for businesses on the high street, and the future of town centres more generally.”
“Following the closure of the Community Ownership Fund, 1 how will you support community enterprises to make use of the new powers in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill?”
“Both developers and local authorities report significant viability constraints in redeveloping brownfield sites in town centres. 2 Does your Department have any specific plans to address these barriers?”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗