The government’s new Pride in Place strategy has just committed more than £5 billion over 10 years to 250 places across England, Wales and Scotland. One of its fundamental premises is spot on: “policies are too often done ‘to’ communities, rather than ‘with’ them”. This is an opportunity for transformation, but there are structural realities that local communities will come up against, particularly when it comes to food businesses. That’s where the Food Strategy comes in. Together, these two initiatives could lead to real improvements in people’s lives.

So, let’s start with the positives. Putting communities in the driving seat has long been championed by Secretary of State Steve Reed and should be applauded. Democratic participation leads to better outcomes. The amounts of money being brought together are also significant, and Neighbourhood Boards – which will involve citizens – will have the say in how its spent. It is being billed as a whole-of-government pilot in sharing power and, in a policy landscape, increasingly shaped by devolutionary intent – it stands out.

Over many years of working with citizens, we find that again and again, food is an enabler for connection, support and collective action. The Food Conversation reinforced that the topic of food opens pathways for discussions about health, climate, economic development and social connection.

The Pride in Place strategy introduces tools to help spread much of the good work that is already happening. And - when it comes to food - there is a lot happening. Over 100 food partnerships now bring together councils, health boards, farmers, and businesses to improve local food environments across the UK. Scotland's Good Food Nation Act requires every local authority and health board to create local good food plans. Wales is investing over £2 million to support community food partnerships.

What makes Pride in Place particularly relevant for food is how its mechanisms align with what communities need. The National Planning Policy Framework ensures local authorities can block new fast-food outlets and hot food takeaways, ensuring communities have space for the businesses who sell food that neighbourhoods actually need. The new Community Right to Buy gives communities stronger powers to take ownership of valued local spaces, including those that could house food businesses, community kitchens or local markets.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund specifically supports community spaces. This could include food hubs or spaces for food education and cultural food activities.  The commitment to establish effective neighbourhood governance in all local authorities, backed by a Network for Neighbourhoods to share their progress, will allow communities to identify food as a critical strategic infrastructure.

So, what do we need to watch out for?

One thing that will prevent the Pride in Place strategy having the impact this government wants is the power asymmetry between big corporates and local communities. The UK’s food system is now largely consolidated into powerful, vertically integrated corporates. Global food and beverage corporations routinely emphasise their role as essential local employers. This makes it politically difficult for communities to challenge their dominance even when residents want different options. There is real risk that Neighbourhood Boards working on high street regeneration will face organised pressure to accommodate the demands of national chains over independent food enterprises.

We know already that local authorities attempts at progressive food policies face coordinated opposition from major food companies. Restricting outdoor advertising for unhealthy products, creating healthier retail environments, supporting local food economies – all these encounter interference that undermines democratic decision-making and exhausts limited council capacity.

Current food infrastructure remains optimised for long shelf-life, ultra-processed products distributed through national and global supply chains. Corner shops and independent retailers operate within an infrastructure that has become skewed towards scale. The alternatives – supply networks that retain more value for primary producers, local processors and in communities - require investment in the networks, logistics, storage, and distribution that are fast disappearing. Even with good intentions, Neighbourhood Boards will struggle to transform food environments if these structural conditions are not tackled.

What can be done?

Developing a new and ambitious Food Strategy, which is currently underway, provides a perfect opportunity to accelerate food systems transformation with and through Pride in Place. It can provide the complementary framework that enables communities to act on their priorities. Where Pride in Place devolves power and resources, the food strategy can address the systemic conditions that determine whether communities can use that power effectively.

This week, the Citizen Advisory Council released their first report on their work advising the food strategy. Laying the Foundation by the CAC sets out the group's intentions and priorities, including learning from what is working well, getting to the root of the problem, and creating the right incentives for change. In the next phase of work, the CAC will investigate what's working well in different regions across the UK when it comes to food. Through a series of citizen inquiries, members will visit areas where change is already happening – working directly with mayors, council leaders, businesses, and community organisations to understand what national policy can learn from the work already happening all around the country.

We often say that when we ask people about food, they tell us about the kind of society they want to live in. Now, with Pride of Place and the Food Strategy, we have a real opportunity to help communities bring this to life.