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Assets of Community Value

A community wishing to make a bid for an asset that has come up for sale should notify us in writing using the online intention to bid form below. 

Tell us you want to bid

The Assets of Community Value (ACV) scheme, established under the Localism Act 2011 in England allows communities to nominate assets that are of significant value to their social well-being and cultural interests. If the nomination is successful, it is then included into a local authority's list of ACVs.

Examples of community assets include:

  • nurseries and schools, health centres, surgeries and hospitals, day care centres
  • parks and open green spaces, sports and leisure centres, libraries/theatres/museums or heritage sites 
  • community centres, youth centres, public toilets 
  • village shops and pubs - which also provide an important local social benefit which would no longer be easily available if that service should stop.

Buildings or land can be considered an ACV if:

  • in the recent past it has furthered the social wellbeing or interests of the local community 
  • it is realistic to think that within the next 5 years it would further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community.

Examples of land which is not of community value and therefore may not be listed could be:

  • residential properties and land
  • caravan sites
  • operational land as defined in section 263 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
  • hotels (only exception is if its main use is not for accommodation). 

The video below also explains what qualifies as an ACV and how to nominate an ACV.

For increased accessibility, YouTube has a "captions" feature that can be enabled when the embedded videos are watched on their platform.

A community wishing to nominate an ACV for the register must first email partnerships@scambs.gov.uk  or call 01954 713070 

One of our officers will arrange a call back to talk you through the process that must be followed. They will arrange for an asset nomination weblink and other relevant information to be sent to you.

Note: For increased accessibility, YouTube has a "captions" feature that can be enabled when the embedded videos are watched on their platform.

Assets can be nominated by:

  • parish councils: Any parish council within the borders of South Cambridgeshire may nominate an asset in their parish to the District Council. A parish may also nominate an asset in a neighbouring parish (where there is a shared boundary), or a neighbouring local authority (if the parish shares a border with an unparished area)
  • unincorporated groups (informal groups that don’t have a constitution): Nominations can be accepted from any unincorporated group of at least 21 local people who appear on the electoral roll within the local authority or neighbouring local authority
  • neighbourhood forums: the process for becoming a neighbourhood forum is set out in section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 [PDF, 2MB]
  • community interest groups with one of the following structures:
    • charity
    • community interest company
    • company limited by guarantee that is non-profit distributing
    • so called ‘registered society’ (known in the past as an ‘industrial and provident society’) that is non-profit distributing

The Guidance and Procedure document [PDF, 0.9MB] shows our approach to the ‘community right to bid’ on assets of community value (ACV).

It includes sections about:

  • who can nominate
  • what qualifies as an ACV
  • the asset register
  • relevant disposal
  • moratorium ("window of opportunity")
  • receiving and assessing a nomination for an ACV
  • listing review
  • compensation
  • enforcement.

Rules surrounding the conversion of pubs to other uses came into force on 6 April 2015 and these are detailed in the Guidance and procedure document for ACVs [PDF, 0.9MB]

For further guidance read the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) on the planning portal.

 

Decisions and appeals

Owners of listed assets can ask us to review including their asset on the list - this is called an Internal Review [PDF, 0.2MB].

If this review upholds the listing, an appeal to an independent body, called a First Tier Tribunal can be pursued by the owner.

For details of the Internal Reviews we have undertaken so far, please contact partnerships@scambs.gov.uk

Our Community Asset Register

The register in the documents below show the details of assets nominated, decisions reached, decisions under review and open moratoria. These documents are currently under review. Contact us if you believe any information is incorrect and/or requires updating.

Below is a list of our ACVs that currently fall within the following periods. Refer to the asset register for relevant dates.

Interim Moratorium

  • The Navigator Public House, Little Shelford

Full Moratorium

There are currently no assets in this period.

Within the protected period of suspension

  • Waggon and Horses Public House, Steeple Morden
  • The Pear Tree (The Pear and Olive), Hildersham
  • The Chestnut Tree Public House, West Wratting
  • The Chequers Public House, Pampisford
  • The White Lion Public House, Sawston
  • The Crown Public House, Litlington

More than a pub

The Community Pub Business Support Programme is a 2-year programme to support community ownership of pubs in England. Its value is £3.62 million and is led by the Plunkett Foundation.

The programme offers the community pub sector access to end-to-end support which includes capacity building and a finance package made up of loans and grants.

News and events

From time to time we run community pub events to give information and updates on:

  • changes in legislation affecting pubs listed as ACVs
  • help we can give through reductions in business rates
  • free broadband connection vouchers for pub businesses
  • how to best use social media to market your pub.

The following links have information about:

Related Information

Contact Details