The Charter For Communities
We believe in community rights – and that people are the solution, not the problem.
Our Charter gives communities both protections and opportunities to drive positive change in our local areas.
Write to your MP
In July 2025, The Government introduced the England Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with an aim being to ‘give communities stronger tools to shape their local areas’. The Community Charter gives people and places the basic rights they need to shape local decisions, protect their environment, and build healthier, fairer communities.
Write to your MP to tell them you support the inclusion of the Community Charter in the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
About the Charter for Communities
Communities across England face big challenges — from the climate crisis and poor housing to disconnection and division. Too often, decisions are made far away in Whitehall, leaving local voices unheard.
Our Community Charter recognises that people are already creating solutions — from community energy to housing projects, green spaces and local initiatives that bring people together. With the right support, these efforts can strengthen our health, wellbeing and democracy.
Why It Matters
• Communities are often treated as problems to manage, rather than partners in shaping the future.
• Local voices are sidelined as decision making is centralised.
• The government’s Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill fails to give people real power over their own places.
• Our Charter shifts the balance. It gives people the rights they need to protect where they live, influence decisions, and build thriving, connected communities.
The Seven Rights
The Charter draws on international law and existing models of good practice. All are credible, achievable and already recognised elsewhere — just not yet implemented in England.
1. A clean and healthy environment (UN human right, 2022)
2. A healthy home (drafted into UK legislation but not yet passed)
3. The right to play (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child)
4. The right to grow food on public land (proposed in previous UK planning amendments)
5. The right to roam and swim (already law in Scotland)
6. A voice in local decisions (Aarhus Convention, now an EU directive)
7. The right to challenge decisions (in line with Aarhus principles and earlier UK proposals)
What’s Next
This Charter is an invitation to rethink how we work together — government and citizens, state and community. It builds on international conventions and proven ideas, but places people and places at the heart of decision-making.
By recognising these rights, we can unleash the energy of communities to create fairer, healthier and more hopeful futures.
This charter has been developed by people who care about who makes the decisions that affect the places we live. Find out more about Rights Community Action and sign up to our subscriber list here
For any queries, please email charter@rightscommunityaction.co.uk.
Signatures
Local communities need to have a say in their local environment and n a stake in local democracy.
Paul MWe need really-secure and really-affordable rented housing, and therefore need to be able to participate and to object where necessary within the planning system to resist developer priorities. Say NO to No say on planning.
Paul BHaving read the White Paper I feel really angry at the removal of powers and participation from the local level. I'm glad to sign this charter
Rachel BI am signing as an individual but I am part of several local groups including our residents association currently seeking a Judicial Review of a planning decision on grounds which I can see include obstructing 1 and 2 of this charter. I am sure we will be looking at whether the RA…
Alistair HWe already live in the one of the most centralised systems in the modern world. To take away local involvement in planning decisions make this even worse. These decisions should be left with local communities and power should not be handed to developers and Westminster. We have already seen how…
Charles Haward SAll the glossy brochures in the world do not compensate for proper democracy for local people. There appears to be some kind of rush to get the Planning White Paper through which is worrying in itself. The right words are often used such as sustainability and climate change, protection of…
Susan EIf not now, when? This is such an important document for the times we are living in and the times yet to come. How we frame our lives, invest in our communities, shape our society are the big ticket issues of the 21st century and planning lies at the heart…
Pam WSupport blocking these latest proposals.
Alan BIt is amazing that those who don't live in an area and have no vested interest in ensuring the needs of the residents are met and that they have a say in what happens are are making decisions which are life-changing. How is this democratic?
D SI'm a former city councillor, and know from experience how residents feel when they don't have any control over what is build in their local community. The government's reforms go in the wrong direction on this front. This charter is an important way of demonstrating that there are many people…
Simeon J