Photo: Tse Chun Ming / Uproute

Here at Uproute, we have spoken to countless people whose lives were changed by finding the right community at the right time.

Whether through a support group, creative project or local community centre, these spaces often provide the foundations for recovery, wellbeing and belonging. Yet despite their importance, there is currently no legal requirement for councils to ensure these spaces exist or remain accessible.

Across England, community facilities have closed, funding has been reduced and many organisations now struggle to find affordable places to operate. More than 1000 youth centres have closed since 2010, and funding has reduced by 73%. Services that were once pillars of the community are being cut and diluted further to the point where the services rely entirely on volunteers, or there is no longer a service at all. The NHS now uses social prescribing, referring people to activities such as walking groups, art groups and community activities to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation.

These programmes depend on community spaces being readily available. This won’t be able to continue if demand and signposting from the NHS increase and funding and accessibility decrease.

That is why Uproute is launching a campaign for a Community Space Access Standard.

The proposal is straightforward:

Every person should have access to a free or low-cost community space within a 15-minute walk of their home, or via accessible public transport.

Under the proposal, councils would be required to assess community space provision, identify gaps in access, protect existing facilities and replace community spaces lost through redevelopment.

We believe community spaces should be treated as essential infrastructure. No one should be left without somewhere to go, connect, recover or rebuild their life.

This campaign proposes the introduction of a Community

Space Access Standard in England, placing a legal duty on local authorities to ensure that all residents have access to a publicly available community space within their local area.

Community spaces, including centres, halls, libraries and creative hubs, play a vital role in supporting mental health, recovery, social cohesion and community resilience. However, there is currently no legal requirement to ensure these spaces exist or remain accessible.

Despite recognition in planning policy that community facilities are important, provision is inconsistent and declining.

  • There is no statutory minimum standard for access to community space
  • Local authority funding for youth and community services has significantly decreased
  • Hundreds of community facilities, libraries and day centres have closed in the past decade
  • Many support groups and community organisations struggle to find affordable, accessible venues

As a result, individuals — particularly those experiencing addiction, homelessness, mental health challenges or social exclusion — are increasingly left without safe, supportive environments.

The campaign calls for the introduction of a new statutory duty requiring local authorities to meet a minimum standard of community space provision.

Core Requirement:

Every resident must have access to a free or low-cost community space within a 15-minute walk (approximately one mile) of their home, or via accessible public transport.

For the purposes of this legislation, a community space is defined as:

A publicly accessible, multi-use venue that supports social, cultural, educational or recovery-focused activities.

This may include:

  • Community centres
  • Libraries
  • Youth centres
  • Church or faith-based halls (where publicly accessible)
  • Charity-run hubs
  • Recovery meeting spaces (e.g. for addiction support groups)
  • Arts and creative spaces

To qualify, spaces must be:

  • Open to the public or local community
  • Affordable or free to use
  • Suitable for group activity and support services

Local authorities would be required to:

5.1 Assess Provision

Map existing community spaces within their area

Identify gaps in provision based on population density and accessibility

5.2 Ensure Access

Maintain or develop sufficient community spaces to meet the 15-minute access standard

Work in partnership with charities, voluntary organisations and community groups

5.3 Protect Existing Spaces

Prevent the unnecessary loss of community facilities

Where closure or redevelopment occurs, ensure equivalent replacement provision within the same local area

To support implementation, funding would be drawn from:

  • Developer contributions (Section 106 agreements / Infrastructure Levy)
  • Local authority budgets allocated to community services
  • Partnerships with voluntary and third-sector organisations
  • National funding streams, where appropriate

This ensures that community infrastructure grows alongside housing and population increases.

This proposal builds on existing frameworks, including:

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which promotes healthy and inclusive communities

The Localism Act 2011, which enables protection of community assets

NHS social prescribing initiatives, which rely on community-based activities

However, it goes further by introducing a clear, enforceable standard, rather than guidance alone.

The introduction of a Community Space Access Standard would:

  • Improve access to support networks and recovery services
  • Reduce social isolation and loneliness
  • Support mental health and wellbeing
  • Strengthen local communities and social cohesion
  • Provide preventative benefits in areas such as crime reduction and public health

Community spaces are essential social infrastructure, yet their provision is currently inconsistent and unprotected.

By introducing a legal standard for access, this policy ensures that no individual is left without a place to go, connect, or rebuild their life.



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