Communities in their places evidence review
Think tank: City-REDI
Author(s): Dr Abigail Taylor; Dr Konstantinos Kollydas; Professor Anne Green
June 17, 2026
This report from UK think tank City-REDI finds that successful interventions require long-term investment, community-led participation and supportive national frameworks.
The LPIP Hub ‘Communities in their Places’ evidence review shows that while communities are central to addressing local economic, social and environmental challenges, their ability to do so varies widely depending on policy frameworks, resources and local capacity.
It highlights that ‘community’ is a complex, overlapping concept, but strong social networks, infrastructure and trust are key to effective place-based action.
Across the UK, different governance models shape engagement – ranging from flexible approaches in England to more structured, rights-based systems in Scotland, embedding of engagement in values of equality and collaboration in Wales and statutory collaboration in Northern Ireland.
The review finds that successful interventions require long-term investment, strong partnerships, community-led participation and supportive national frameworks, while community businesses and participatory approaches (e.g. citizens’ assemblies) can drive inclusive growth and innovation.
Ultimately, empowered communities are essential for sustainable local change, but achieving this depends on sustained funding, capacity building, and genuinely inclusive engagement.
