Assets of Community Value

Assets of Community Value

In neighbourhoods across the country, there are buildings and amenities that are important to the communities that use them. This could include a village shop, a post office, a pub, a community centre, a recreation ground or a library.

The closure or sale of these places can create lasting damage to communities. Under the Localism Act, voluntary and community organisations can nominate an asset to be included on a list of ‘Assets of Community Value’.

If the asset comes up for sale, parish councils or community groups with a local connection will then be given a fair chance to make a bid to buy it on the open market.

As well as emailing us with evidence, you will be able to include some evidence on your application form.

When nominating we'll ask for detailed information and evidence about:

  • the asset
  • it's location including boundaries
  • it's current ownership
  • the community group you represent

You should include evidence and information on:

  • the type of activity carried out at the property and any policies of the organised activity
  • number of people using the activity and proportion of local community making use of the property
  • information on any community consultation in relation to the nomination
  • supporting evidence from any consultation including ward members, local stakeholders
  • equalities impact, accessibility and inclusive information, how does the facility meet these needs
  • how the community services are referred to in council policy such as the local plan, cultural and community policies
  • the impact on the local community if the asset closes
  • tenancy information including leases and licences
  • your community organisation's business plans that show the asset as being required
  • financial information showing the community use is viable and will continue to be viable with continued use of the asset
  • future booking information

Apply

You can nominate an Asset of Community Value online.

Considering your application

Once a nomination is submitted, we will notify:

  • the owner, leaseholder and or any other occupiers with an interest in the property
  • Councillors in the ward
  • other users of the property or land, including as community groups that hire the property

We may ask for further information from the nominator and the owners, and will notify both parties once we have made a decision via a Decision Notification Letter. We will then update the list published online and register a charge on the property with local land charges if the nomination is approved.

A decision is usually made within 8 weeks.

Appeal

Nominator

The nominator can provide additional information for us to consider, but we won't accept repeated nominations because it was rejected.

Owner

The owner can send a request to lodge a review of our decision within 8 weeks of the written notification of listing by contacting us.

We will then provide the owner with advice on the review process.

Once complete, we will include the outcome of the review and the reasons for the decision made:

  • if the review finds in favour of the asset owner then the asset is removed from the list
  • if the review finds in favour of the original listing decision then the owner has the option to take their appeal to First Tier Tribunal

We will complete this review within 6 weeks of receipt of the review request, or a longer period if both parties agree.

Notice of intention to dispose of listed asset of community value

Notice is hereby given under section 95(2) Localism Act 2011 that North Northamptonshire Council received notice on 12 January 2024 from the owner of the above of their intention to undertake a ‘relevant disposal’ of the land.

The land is listed by the Council as an Asset of Community Value. As such, an initial moratorium has been triggered to 23 February 2024 during which time eligible community interest groups may request to be treated as a potential bidder for the property.

Last updated 10 April 2024