For over half a century, billions have been spent on a revolving door of programmes aimed at fixing Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods, with little to no real change.

‘A Modest Proposal’ calls for a radical shift—moving beyond micro-interventions and civic management, toward a distributist approach that prioritises the community and place-based ownership of property, land, and productive assets.

The report follows the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) final report on neighbourhood renewal. While ICON’s work provides a valuable and comprehensive assessment of the scale of disadvantage facing communities — and sets out practical recommendations around funding, governance and long-term commitment — A Modest Proposal goes further in questioning the underlying economic model that has shaped regeneration policy for decades.

Key recommendations of the report include:

1. Embed home ownership pathways within place-based funding

2. Actively tilt the market in favour of small and local owners

3. Support co-operative and community ownership institutions

4. Protect emerging owners from excessive financial burdens

5. Align cultural renewal with economic reform