Abundance Investment

Municipal lending is a loan from citizens to their councils.

Abundance has partnered with councils across political lines, including Sheffield, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Glasgow, and London boroughs.

Abundance’s municipal investments are long-term and low-risk, comparable to NS&I and fixed-rate savings, with tax-free ISA options.

The page covers urban greening projects and green energy initiatives.

Over the past 30 years, relationships between councils and communities have become more distant. Many people feel more like consumers of their council services than active stakeholders in their place.

The page provides updates on municipal investments, including news, council updates, and research on citizen investment.

A report by Dr Mark Davis and Dr Emma Hyde examines how municipal investments can boost civic participation through public engagement.

Bristol City Council launched a green investment programme through Abundance Investment, allowing residents and businesses to invest in sustainability.

West Berkshire and Warrington Councils were the first to pilot municipal investments in 2020, testing research from the University of Leeds.

Invest in Edinburgh Green Investment to help build a greener, healthier and fairer future for their communities.

Abundance launched the first platform in 2012 for direct green project investments, raising over £135m for wind, solar, and tidal energy.

This Green & Social Finance Framework (“GSFF”, “Framework”) has been created by Abundance Investment in partnership with the councils raising funding through Abundance.

Abundance highlights real-world examples of municipal investments delivering positive impacts.

Unity Trust Bank committed £15 million to Abundance’s municipal investments in 2025, investing alongside citizens to expand council borrowing.

Abundance specializes in green investments that fund projects improving the places where people live.

Abundance outlines its privacy policy for data collected through its website and services.

Note on how these Terms and Conditions apply

Abundance offers peer-to-peer loans to councils for real projects with positive impacts across the UK.

The Green Finance Institute (GFI) and University of Leeds highlight how **local governments can access lower-cost, citizen-backed financing** through Community Municipal Investments. Their research demonstrates that such models—similar to NS&I (National Savings and Investments) funding—operate within existing prudential guidelines. The approach aims to unlock affordable capital for municipal projects by leveraging public trust and participation.

Sep 2026Green Finance InstituteNews article

Karl Harder examines how **citizen investment** could bolster local authority finances by engaging residents as stakeholders. The model proposes leveraging community contributions to fund public services, potentially reducing reliance on traditional funding sources. Harder highlights case studies where similar approaches have strengthened local governance and economic resilience.

Apr 2026themj.co.ukNews article

Abundance Investment operates a crowdfunding platform focused on sustainable investments. Co-founder and joint managing director Karl Harder discusses the company’s mission and approach to financing projects aligned with environmental and social sustainability goals.

Jul 2024UKCFANews article

Warrington Borough Council launched a pilot bond scheme in 2020 to enable residents to invest in local climate-focused projects. The initiative allows community members to directly fund municipal initiatives aimed at sustainability. This model supports grassroots climate action by leveraging collective investments.

Apr 2022AshdenNews article