Community right to bid
The provisions give communities a right to identify a building or other land that they believe to be of importance to their community’s social wellbeing. The aim is that, if the asset comes up for sale, then they will be given a fair chance to make a bid to buy it on the open market. The scheme only applies when the asset is being put up for sale and there is no requirement for the owner of the asset to sell it.
It is not a community right to buy the asset, just to bid.
Assets can be nominated by a voluntary or community body with a local connection. A body cannot be a local authority, but the definition includes -
- a body designated as a neighbourhood forum pursuant to section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
- a parish council
- an unincorporated body
- those whose members include at least 21 individuals
- a body that does not distribute any surplus it makes to its members
- a charity
- a company limited by guarantee which does not distribute any surplus it makes to its members
- an industrial and provident society which does not distribute any surplus it makes to its members
- a community interest company
Community nomination
A community nomination, should include -
- a description of the nominated land and its boundaries
- the names of the occupants of the land and those holding a freehold or leasehold estate in the land
- the reasons why the land should be considered of community value
- evidence that the nominator is eligible to make a community nomination
A nomination form should be completed by qualifying applicants.
We must add details of any community interest group that wishes to be treated as a potential buyer of an asset to its list of assets of community value within 6 weeks of receiving the request. We must remove the entry if an appeal against the listing is successful.