Community empowerment bill ‘lifeline’ for English pubsCommunities in England will be given extra powers to take over pubs and other assets threatened with closure under proposed new legislation. Under the English devolution and community empowerment bill, residents will get first refusal on local businesses when they go up for sale, plus an extended 12-month period to raise funding to buy them. People in Scotland have similar powers already. “This has the potential to save many businesses in rural areas which would otherwise be closed or turned into accommodation. “We believe this is a promising first step for community empowerment.