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A blueprint for community ownership & regeneration
Otley COMMON is providing vital community services thanks to the backing of local investors, the council and Cooperatives UK
In the heart of Otley—a historic market town near Leeds —an incredible transformation is underway. What was once a disused Methodist church is now being reimagined to become Otley COMMON: a dynamic, community-owned hub that blends heritage, sustainability, creativity, and enterprise. And thanks to a blend of public and private funding (including the live community share offer on Ethex), this vision is set to become a reality for the Otley community.
At Ethex, we see this as more than a local success story but an example of what can be achieved when community ambition is backed by blended financing, giving everyday investors and local people the opportunity to help shape the future of Otley, while targeting a fair financial return.
The problem in Otley
Like many UK towns, Otley has felt the impact of closed community venues, limited cultural spaces, and growing social isolation, intensified by the pandemic. There is a lack of spaces for enterprise, social gatherings and arts and cultural events. Unused civic buildings, like churches that were once central to the community, have become a symbol of a broader social challenge—how do we reconnect people, restore purpose to public spaces, and build stronger, more sustainable communities?
The vision: Otley COMMON
Otley COMMON is a community-led answer to that challenge: a brilliant plan to repurpose the town’s former Methodist church and adjoining buildings into an inclusive cultural and enterprise centre that sis owned by - and for the benefit of - local people.
When completed, the new hub will:
- Combat loneliness and social isolation by offering accessible spaces for community events, wellbeing workshops, and intergenerational activities.
- Support Otley's net-zero goals with eco-conscious retrofitting and a dedicated showcase—The Caretaker’s Cottage—showcasing low-carbon renovations of heritage buildings.
- Encourage local economic growth by creating new jobs, co-working spaces, and a launchpad for social enterprises and creative industries.
- Provide a meeting place for 37 existing local groups, strengthening Otley's community connections
Blend of funding making it a reality
What is most exciting about Otley COMMON is that it's being funded through a mix of community investment via a share offer and £50,000 in match funding from Co-operatives UK’s Community Shares Booster Fund, as well as a £20,000 investment from Otley Town Council through its Investing in Otley scheme. The project has also received support from Leeds Council and local donors.
This blended finance model demonstrates the power of combining public confidence with investor support. Every pound invested by individuals has been amplified by match funding, doubling its impact and taking Otley COMMON a step closer to being a reality.
John Dawson of Co-operatives UK explains:
“Otley COMMON is a great example of how community ownership and community shares can empower people to bring about the changes they want to see locally.”
Otey COMMON still needs your investment
Thanks to this incredible support, Otley COMMON has already surpassed its minimum funding target of £690,500—highlighting the community’s belief in the project and the strength of its vision. But they’re not stopping there. The project now hopes to reach its optimum funding target of £901,700 to carry out the full refurbishment, maximising impact for the town and delivering a shining example of what community regeneration can achieve.
Andrew Howarth, fundraising lead at Otley COMMON, says:
“This additional investment demonstrates the strong confidence these organisations have in our project; We hope this sends a clear message to other potential investors about the promising future of Otley COMMON.”
Invest in the future of community spaces
Investing in Otley COMMON allows investors to be part of a community-focused movement. You’re investing to support a model that delivers tangible, local impact that meets the real needs of the local community and provides a replicable blueprint for towns across the UK
Investments in the Otley COMMON community share offer target a 6.25% return and start from just £200 The share offer is open until 20th June, so there’s still time to help bring the full vision of Otley COMMON to life.
As more and more disused buildings sit empty across the UK, Otley COMMON is proving to the UK what’s possible when vision is backed by investment. This is a great opportunity to support a genuinely transformational, community-owned project—and help show the way for others to follow suit.
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