UK Pride in Place programme represents a vital shift from top-down renewal to localised empowerment.

February 7, 2026 by David Smith
  • We strongly welcome the Pride in Place (PiP) programme, which represents a vital shift from top-down renewal to localised empowerment. By delegating authority to a ‘Neighbourhood Board’—not the Council—residents will dictate how £2m p.a. (over 10 years) is spent to address specific local needs.
  • Shortly, this funding enables a 4-year investment plan (to be agreed by UK Government) covering capital improvements, such as traffic management and road maintenance, alongside revenue projects like potentially improving NHS health check uptake, supporting early years learning, or boosting local sports.
  • To succeed, the method of decision-making must be as robust as the investment itself. We must establish strong, supportive frameworks that ensure local voices have genuine agency, fulfilling the promise of true devolution.

About David Smith

A lifelong co-operative activist at all levels of the movement, including the Co-op Group Main Board. Public service includes Government Food Adviser; UK Healthcare Regulator. David founded the first Community Law Centre in Wales and directed the first EC funded Wales Anti-Poverty Programme: pioneering co-operative & place making community initiatives: including local Co-op Development Agencies, Care & Repair, and multipurpose Social Care Co-operatives. Founded Cardiff Student Community Action, Welsh Food Alliance & Wales Progressive Co-operators. Robert Owen Memorial Museum Trustee. Director, Sheffield Co-op Development Group. Former Lecturer, Gwent Tertiary College. Graduate Ruskin College, Oxford and UC Cardiff + PGCE, MA (European Human Resource Management) Keele; Professional Food & Management qualifications.
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