Under the Localism Act, voluntary and community organisations can nominate an asset to be included on a list of ‘assets of community value’. This list is managed by the Council and is available If a landowner wants to sell a registered property, they must tell the Council. If a group wants to buy the asset they can trigger a 6 month period to give them a chance to raise the money, but the landowner can still sell at the going market rate.
This period gives community groups some time to develop a proposal and raise the required capital to bid for the property when it comes onto the open market at the end of the 6 month period.
How to get an asset on the list
- A community nomination must come from a Town or Parish Council or a locally connected voluntary or community body. The nomination has to be made for land or buildings in the nominee's local area
- If the Council deems that the asset does have community value, and it is in their local area, than it will add that asset to the 'assets of community value' list
- If the nomination is unsuccessful the Council must notify the nominee in writing and provide an explanation as to why the nomination was unsuccessful
- The Council must notify the landowner, the occupier and the community nominee of any inclusion or removal of an asset to the list
- A landowner can ask the Council to review the inclusion of the asset from the list and there will be a process for an appeal to an independent body
- The Council must also maintain a list of 'land nominated by an unsuccessful community nomination'
- If land is included in the list of assets of community value it will remain on that list for five years.
Nominations can be made by downloading and completing the word version of the form available at the top right of this web page.
What counts as an ‘asset of community value’?
A building or piece of land is deemed to have community value if:
- The use of the land or building currently, or in the recent past, furthers the social well-being or cultural, recreational or sporting interests of the local community
- This use (as described above) of the building will continue to further the social well-being or interests of the local community
- The use of the building or land must not be deemed ‘ancillary’, i.e. of secondary purpose. This means that the use of the land or building to further social well-being or interests of the community must be its principle use.
Who can nominate an asset?
Only voluntary and community organisations can make nominations, not individuals. See the guidance notes available in the publications at the top right of this web page for a full list.
Please read the guidance notes before making a nomination, which are also listed under Publications.
If you are interested in expressing an interest on a community asset or require further information on how to submit nominations please contact localism@brentwood.gov.uk
Further information about assets of community value/community right to bid can be found on the My Community Rights website.
Register of Community Assets
The Register of Community Assets and List of Unsuccessful Nominations are available to view in the Property section of the Council's information database, DataShare and from February 2021 Brentwood Council Document Library - Transparency Act.