After 14 years of resident-led neighbourhood renewal in 150 areas, what is our legacy?

Previous initiatives like Levelling Up often failed to reach the communities most in need and rarely involved residents – the people who know best about what works locally. Big Local proves that communities can be trusted to deliver on their own priorities without intermediaries, offering a blueprint for future regeneration.

Big Local was unique: it placed funding and decision-making directly in the hands of residents, rebuilding community capacity and civic fabric that had been eroded nationwide. Unlike traditional grants overseen by Westminster or local councils, Big Local trusted communities to lead. Its decade-long horizon focused on progress rather than quick wins, creating lasting change.

“Big Local became one of the largest sources of support for community development workers in England and since 2015, there have been almost 5,000 volunteers involved across the programme”

This wasn’t just about bricks and mortar. Much of Big Local’s success was relational, grounded in making connections between neighbours and across areas. That ethos produced creativity and ambition, exemplified by Lawrence Weston Big Local in Bristol.

In 2018, residents decided to tackle climate change and reduce energy bills by building a wind turbine. After seven years of planning and construction, the 4.3-megawatt community-owned turbine launched in 2023, generating enough power for 3,500 homes and returning profits to the community. It’s a powerful example of what happens when local people are trusted to lead.

Big Local became one of the largest sources of support for community development workers in England and since 2015, there have been almost 5,000 volunteers involved across the programme. This translated into:

• Skills and employment: Frontier Economics estimates Big Local supported up to 208 full-time equivalent jobs annually. Despite a national decline in employment between 2011 and 2021, Big Local areas saw a smaller drop – 6.5% compared to 7.2% elsewhere.
• Greener spaces: More than 64% of Big Local areas improved green spaces, investing £6.5m in projects ranging from recycling schemes to renewable energy generation. These efforts reflect a strong commitment to sustainability.
• Young people: Nearly three-quarters of areas funded youth projects, delivering 266 activities – from play areas and summer programmes to mentorship clubs and skate parks – and giving young people safe spaces to thrive.

“Big Local was never just about funding – it was about trust, empowerment and long-term change”

• Safer communities: Big Local helped reduce crime significantly more than in comparable areas. Overall crime fell by nearly 49% more in Big Local areas, and anti-social behaviour declined sharply. ICON research found neighbourhood crime rates dropped by 6.83 incidents per 1,000 residents in Big Local areas, compared to 4.31 elsewhere.
• Democratic engagement: Big Local built confidence and leadership skills. Over half of participants moved into other community roles, and some entered formal politics. In Ramsey Million Big Local in Cambridgeshire, five residents now sit on the town council, shaping decisions and ensuring local voices are heard.

Big Local shows what’s possible when communities are trusted. Yet hundreds of doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods remain in urgent need of investment to rebuild capacity and kickstart renewal. Pride in Place is a step forward, but the work of rewilding civic life must go further.

Big Local was never just about funding – it was about trust, empowerment and long-term change. Its legacy is clear: stronger communities, healthier lives, greener spaces and a generation of residents who know they have the power to make a difference.

In launching Learning from Big Local we are committing to tell the full story – complete with the challenges inherent in this type of work. That way, funders, researchers, policymakers and community-development workers can take steps towards a national renewal policy that will benefit every community across England.

Madeleine Jennings, head of policy and communications, Local Trust