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Councils · England only

Investments and commercial assets

Official MHCLG stocks for English local authorities: COR F asset categories as at 31 March 2025 (prior year 31 March 2024) and financial investments / borrowing from the live table as at 30 June 2026 (same-quarter prior year 30 June 2025). Traffic lights are percentile bands among the current table set — objective ratio flags, not editorial scores. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are out of scope.

Highest investment properties

£1.96bn

Luton

Highest IP in companies / subsidiaries

£1.85bn

Luton

Highest financial investments

£1.83bn

City of London

Highest IP vs borrowing

239.1%

Luton · borrowing ≥ £10m

Thinnest treasury cover

0.00×

Doncaster · ST borrowing ≥ £1m

Largest borrowing increase

+£252.2m

Cornwall · vs 30 June 2025

Largest IP increase

+£1.84bn

Luton · vs 31 March 2024

Published COR E companies

765

122 of 153 CTYUA have at least one

National ranks

Top ten among all 317 English rows in this snapshot (CTYUA plus shire districts), except where labelled CTYUA-only. Districts have no primary /councils page.

Highest investment properties

COR F total · 31 March 2025

  1. 1.LutonUnitary authority£1.96bn
  2. 2.City of LondonLondon borough£1.50bn
  3. 3.WokingShire district£746.7m
  4. 4.WarringtonUnitary authority£605.5m
  5. 5.WestminsterLondon borough£598.9m
  6. 6.NewhamLondon borough£585.7m
  7. 7.SpelthorneShire district£583.1m
  8. 8.Barking and DagenhamLondon borough£560.7m
  9. 9.ManchesterMetropolitan borough£508.9m
  10. 10.BuckinghamshireUnitary authority£422.3m

Highest IP in companies / subsidiaries

COR F trading companies + subsidiaries · 31 March 2025

  1. 1.LutonUnitary authority£1.85bn
  2. 2.WokingShire district£500.0m
  3. 3.NorthumberlandUnitary authority£280.8m
  4. 4.SurreyCounty council£253.5m
  5. 5.NewhamLondon borough£224.7m
  6. 6.South CambridgeshireShire district£137.2m
  7. 7.EnfieldLondon borough£120.2m
  8. 8.Telford and WrekinUnitary authority£119.0m
  9. 9.UttlesfordShire district£106.8m
  10. 10.IpswichShire district£102.0m

Highest financial investment stock

Live table · 30 June 2026

  1. 1.City of LondonLondon borough£1.83bn
  2. 2.North YorkshireUnitary authority£763.4m
  3. 3.LutonUnitary authority£629.5m
  4. 4.EssexCounty council£606.3m
  5. 5.LancashireCounty council£560.1m
  6. 6.NorthumberlandUnitary authority£536.4m
  7. 7.Barking and DagenhamLondon borough£524.2m
  8. 8.WandsworthLondon borough£456.7m
  9. 9.StaffordshireCounty council£448.5m
  10. 10.NottinghamUnitary authority£422.1m

Highest IP vs borrowing

COR F IP / live-table borrowing · mixed dates · borrowing ≥ £10m

  1. 1.TewkesburyShire district474.3%
  2. 2.PrestonShire district434.5%
  3. 3.SevenoaksShire district314.5%
  4. 4.BroxbourneShire district290.5%
  5. 5.Reigate & BansteadShire district277.1%
  6. 6.LutonUnitary authority239.1%
  7. 7.HuntingdonshireShire district213.7%
  8. 8.ElmbridgeShire district191.9%
  9. 9.Epsom & EwellShire district175.3%
  10. 10.King's Lynn & West NorfolkShire district166.3%

Thinnest treasury cover

Financial investments / short-term borrowing · 30 June 2026 · ST ≥ £1m

  1. 1.DoncasterMetropolitan borough0.00×
  2. 2.Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleUnitary authority0.01×
  3. 3.EastbourneShire district0.03×
  4. 4.BromsgroveShire district0.03×
  5. 5.EastleighShire district0.08×
  6. 6.Central BedfordshireUnitary authority0.09×
  7. 7.North TynesideMetropolitan borough0.10×
  8. 8.GloucesterShire district0.10×
  9. 9.Bracknell ForestUnitary authority0.11×
  10. 10.LewesShire district0.12×

Steepest borrowing increase

Live table Q1 2026–27 vs Q1 2025–26

  1. 1.CornwallUnitary authority+£252.2m
  2. 2.Hammersmith and FulhamLondon borough+£215.8m
  3. 3.LeedsMetropolitan borough+£198.0m
  4. 4.Kensington and ChelseaLondon borough+£192.4m
  5. 5.ManchesterMetropolitan borough+£190.0m
  6. 6.BarnetLondon borough+£184.0m
  7. 7.CroydonLondon borough+£181.3m
  8. 8.HackneyLondon borough+£171.8m
  9. 9.SurreyCounty council+£168.6m
  10. 10.BirminghamMetropolitan borough+£160.8m

Steepest investment-property increase

COR F 31 March 2025 vs 31 March 2024

  1. 1.LutonUnitary authority+£1.84bn
  2. 2.NewhamLondon borough+£218.2m
  3. 3.HackneyLondon borough+£115.2m
  4. 4.UttlesfordShire district+£109.4m
  5. 5.Barking and DagenhamLondon borough+£101.2m
  6. 6.SandwellMetropolitan borough+£76.4m
  7. 7.BarnetLondon borough+£75.9m
  8. 8.Telford and WrekinUnitary authority+£72.5m
  9. 9.CornwallUnitary authority+£65.6m
  10. 10.FarehamShire district+£65.5m

Most COR E companies

COR E 2024–25 · CTYUA

  1. 1.ManchesterMetropolitan borough28
  2. 2.KentCounty council24
  3. 3.Newcastle upon TyneMetropolitan borough19
  4. 4.North YorkshireUnitary authority13
  5. 5.CambridgeshireCounty council12
  6. 6.PlymouthUnitary authority12
  7. 7.Barking and DagenhamLondon borough11
  8. 8.CornwallUnitary authority11
  9. 9.NewhamLondon borough11
  10. 10.BlackpoolUnitary authority10

Highest CTYUA borrowing stock

Live table · 30 June 2026 · Watchtower CTYUA

  1. 1.BirminghamMetropolitan borough£3.49bn
  2. 2.LeedsMetropolitan borough£2.66bn
  3. 3.ManchesterMetropolitan borough£1.80bn
  4. 4.CroydonLondon borough£1.64bn
  5. 5.CornwallUnitary authority£1.63bn
  6. 6.Barking and DagenhamLondon borough£1.59bn
  7. 7.NewhamLondon borough£1.56bn
  8. 8.WarringtonUnitary authority£1.55bn
  9. 9.BarnetLondon borough£1.34bn
  10. 10.EnfieldLondon borough£1.28bn

What these figures are

Investment properties are COR F asset values held directly, in trading companies and in subsidiaries (total sheet, which nets intra-group). The council page also shows the published COR F category breakdown and the live-table borrowing / financial-investment instrument mix. Financial investments are deposits, gilts, money-market funds and similar — not the same as investment property. Year-on-year live-table compares are Q1 2026–27 versus Q1 2025–26 (same workbook). Year-on-year COR F compares are 31 March 2025 versus 31 March 2024. Ratios are Watchtower-derived; they are not an MHCLG RAG rating or a moral score. No named hotel / shopping-centre list: COR tables are totals and company names, not deal-level assets. Section 114 / commissioner flags are omitted — there is no official bulk table in this snapshot.

Source: MHCLG — Capital outturn return COR F: value of assets held directly, in trading companies and in subsidiaries, England 2024-25. As of 31 Mar 2025 · 2024 to 2025 final outturn, as at 31 March 2025.

Source: MHCLG — Capital outturn return COR F, England 2023-24 (prior year, as at 31 March 2024). As of 31 Mar 2024 · 2023 to 2024 final outturn, as at 31 March 2024.

Source: MHCLG — Borrowing and investment live table, Q1 2026 to 2027 (as at 30 June 2026), with Q1 2025 to 2026 prior-year sheets in the same workbook. As of 30 Jun 2026 · as at 30 June 2026 (Q1 2026 to 2027); prior year as at 30 June 2025 (Q1 2025 to 2026).

Explain this numberInvestment properties (COR F)

The published MHCLG COR F stock of investment properties held by the authority directly, in trading companies and in subsidiaries, as at 31 March 2025. Council pages also show the other published COR F asset categories. It is an asset value, not a list of named hotels or shopping centres.

  • Not the same as the live-table stock of financial investments (deposits, gilts, money-market funds).
  • The investment-property / borrowing ratio mixes this March 2025 stock with June 2026 outstanding borrowing. It is a Watchtower arithmetic flag, not an MHCLG grade.
  • The ratio is not computed when outstanding borrowing is under £10 million (thin denominator).
  • Year-on-year COR F compares 31 March 2025 with 31 March 2024 from the previous individual-authority file. Missing prior-year cells stay unavailable.
  • Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are out of scope for v1.
Explain this numberFinancial investments vs short-term borrowing

Live-table financial investments divided by short-term borrowing, both as at 30 June 2026. It is a cover ratio, not a cashflow forecast. Instrument columns (PWLB, DMO, money-market funds and the rest) are the published live-table breakdown.

  • Investments here are deposits, gilts, DMO facility, money-market funds and similar — not COR F investment properties.
  • Not computed when short-term borrowing is under £1 million (including nil).
  • Year-on-year live-table compares are Q1 2026–27 versus Q1 2025–26 from the same workbook.
  • Traffic-light bands are percentiles among English peers in this snapshot, not official RAG ratings.
IP vs borrowing traffic light (percentile among the current set):Lower IP vs borrowingBelow-averageMidHigherHighest IP vs borrowing

Showing 317 of 317 English authorities. Default sort is highest COR F investment properties.

  • Investment properties
    £1.96bn
    IP in companies / subs
    £1.85bn
    IP vs borrowing
    239.1%
    Financial investments
    £629.5m
    Treasury cover
    7.82×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£50.2m
  • Investment properties
    £1.50bn
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    Unavailable
    Financial investments
    £1.83bn
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    £0
  • WokingShire district · E07000217 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £746.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £500.0m
    IP vs borrowing
    34.2%
    Financial investments
    £29.4m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£16.7m
  • Investment properties
    £605.5m
    IP in companies / subs
    £26.1m
    IP vs borrowing
    39.1%
    Financial investments
    £157.4m
    Treasury cover
    9.87×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£17.6m
  • Investment properties
    £598.9m
    IP in companies / subs
    £33.4m
    IP vs borrowing
    108.7%
    Financial investments
    £407.9m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£27.5m
  • Investment properties
    £585.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £224.7m
    IP vs borrowing
    37.5%
    Financial investments
    £70.0m
    Treasury cover
    0.54×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£138.8m
  • SpelthorneShire district · E07000213 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £583.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    81.9%
    Financial investments
    £97.4m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£353.1m
  • Investment properties
    £560.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £22.8m
    IP vs borrowing
    35.3%
    Financial investments
    £524.2m
    Treasury cover
    1.82×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£77.6m
  • Investment properties
    £508.9m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    28.2%
    Financial investments
    £238.8m
    Treasury cover
    0.89×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£190.0m
  • Investment properties
    £422.3m
    IP in companies / subs
    £68.8m
    IP vs borrowing
    157.1%
    Financial investments
    £296.8m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£7.2m
  • RunnymedeShire district · E07000212 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £388.8m
    IP in companies / subs
    £38.0m
    IP vs borrowing
    66.3%
    Financial investments
    £89.1m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£10.6m
  • Investment properties
    £372.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £120.2m
    IP vs borrowing
    29.2%
    Financial investments
    £116.8m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£1.4m
  • Investment properties
    £339.6m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    51.3%
    Financial investments
    £116.8m
    Treasury cover
    1.23×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£11.9m
  • Investment properties
    £321.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £253.5m
    IP vs borrowing
    25.2%
    Financial investments
    £116.6m
    Treasury cover
    0.15×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£168.6m
  • Investment properties
    £308.4m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    135.8%
    Financial investments
    £302.1m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    £0
  • Investment properties
    £303.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    25.3%
    Financial investments
    £86.6m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£39.1m
  • Basingstoke & DeaneShire district · E07000084 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £301.3m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    Unavailable
    Financial investments
    £117.7m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£15,000
  • Investment properties
    £283.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £280.8m
    IP vs borrowing
    31.5%
    Financial investments
    £536.4m
    Treasury cover
    3.10×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£71.9m
  • UttlesfordShire district · E07000077 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £278.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £106.8m
    IP vs borrowing
    92.4%
    Financial investments
    £97.0m
    Treasury cover
    1.00×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£1.7m
  • Investment properties
    £273.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    78.8%
    Financial investments
    £36.9m
    Treasury cover
    0.42×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£171.8m
  • Investment properties
    £241.6m
    IP in companies / subs
    £6.2m
    IP vs borrowing
    81.6%
    Financial investments
    £30.6m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£16.5m
  • Investment properties
    £239.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £41.4m
    IP vs borrowing
    58.8%
    Financial investments
    £422.1m
    Treasury cover
    182.34×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£327.8m
  • Investment properties
    £220.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £1.4m
    IP vs borrowing
    26.3%
    Financial investments
    £29.2m
    Treasury cover
    0.20×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£39.2m
  • Investment properties
    £219.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    27.5%
    Financial investments
    £91.3m
    Treasury cover
    0.49×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£92.7m
  • Investment properties
    £213.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    72.4%
    Financial investments
    £12.1m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    £0
  • Epping ForestShire district · E07000072 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £193.5m
    IP in companies / subs
    £23.4m
    IP vs borrowing
    69.5%
    Financial investments
    £112.5m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£12.3m
  • South CambridgeshireShire district · E07000012 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £191.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £137.2m
    IP vs borrowing
    57.4%
    Financial investments
    £172.5m
    Treasury cover
    2.65×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£54.1m
  • Test ValleyShire district · E07000093 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £173.3m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    Unavailable
    Financial investments
    £121.0m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£257,000
  • Investment properties
    £172.3m
    IP in companies / subs
    £62.9m
    IP vs borrowing
    42.8%
    Financial investments
    £46.4m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£24.8m
  • CambridgeShire district · E07000008 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £169.8m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    56.9%
    Financial investments
    £66.6m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£16.0m
  • Investment properties
    £169.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £119.0m
    IP vs borrowing
    34.6%
    Financial investments
    £122.0m
    Treasury cover
    0.91×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£63.3m
  • GuildfordShire district · E07000209 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £169.4m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    50.2%
    Financial investments
    £49.9m
    Treasury cover
    1.33×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£18.4m
  • Investment properties
    £168.3m
    IP in companies / subs
    £78.7m
    IP vs borrowing
    46.1%
    Financial investments
    £321.1m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£14.0m
  • Investment properties
    £163.7m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    47.5%
    Financial investments
    £84.9m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£5.6m
  • Investment properties
    £152.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    22.7%
    Financial investments
    £175.8m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£9.6m
  • BroxbourneShire district · E07000095 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £150.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £18.9m
    IP vs borrowing
    290.5%
    Financial investments
    £60.7m
    Treasury cover
    1.17×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    £0
  • RushmoorShire district · E07000092 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £148.2m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    116.7%
    Financial investments
    £22.7m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£19.0m
  • OxfordShire district · E07000178 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £145.8m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    50.5%
    Financial investments
    £24.1m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    £0
  • Investment properties
    £137.6m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    15.9%
    Financial investments
    £196.9m
    Treasury cover
    1.36×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£25.5m
  • Investment properties
    £134.6m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    10.1%
    Financial investments
    £77.6m
    Treasury cover
    3.11×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£184.0m
  • Investment properties
    £134.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    111.8%
    Financial investments
    £6.4m
    Treasury cover
    0.11×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£15.0m
  • Investment properties
    £123.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £62.0m
    IP vs borrowing
    20.3%
    Financial investments
    £41.0m
    Treasury cover
    0.13×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£45.8m
  • Investment properties
    £120.4m
    IP in companies / subs
    £2.7m
    IP vs borrowing
    17.9%
    Financial investments
    £175.6m
    Treasury cover
    3.62×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£22.1m
  • Investment properties
    £118.9m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    22.7%
    Financial investments
    £99.3m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£215.8m
  • Investment properties
    £118.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    10.1%
    Financial investments
    £69.5m
    Treasury cover
    5.35×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£120.2m
  • Investment properties
    £114.8m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    20.3%
    Financial investments
    £147.8m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£94.5m
  • Epsom & EwellShire district · E07000208 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £113.0m
    IP in companies / subs
    £49.4m
    IP vs borrowing
    175.3%
    Financial investments
    £77.1m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    £0
  • Investment properties
    £112.6m
    IP in companies / subs
    £0
    IP vs borrowing
    29.3%
    Financial investments
    £70.4m
    Treasury cover
    3.52×
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£29.0m
  • IpswichShire district · E07000202 · not a primary council page
    Investment properties
    £112.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £102.0m
    IP vs borrowing
    45.5%
    Financial investments
    £8.7m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    −£5.2m
  • Investment properties
    £110.1m
    IP in companies / subs
    £63.4m
    IP vs borrowing
    17.4%
    Financial investments
    £58.2m
    Treasury cover
    Unavailable
    Borrowing vs year earlier
    +£24.4m

Showing 150 of 317 authorities

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