1. Homepage
  2. Planning and building
  3. Planning services
  4. Community right to bid

Community right to bid

Contents

Assets of community value

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 local authority.

If a land/property owner wants to sell a registered property, they must tell the District Council. If a group wants to buy the asset, they can trigger a 6 months moratorium.

The moratorium period gives community groups some time to develop a proposal and raise the required capital to bid for the property when it comes on to the open market at the end of the moratorium period. Community groups do not have an automatic right to buy the property or land; they must compete with other parties and the land/property owner can still sell at the market rate.

Bassetlaw’s list of assets of community value

Bassetlaw’s list of assets of community value will appear here once we have assessed the first nominations.

What counts as an ‘asset of community value’?

A building or land in any ownership (including the local authority and the Crown) may be considered an asset of community value if its current principal (non-ancillary) use or recent use has been to further the social well-being or social interests of the local community and is likely to do so in the future.

Residential property cannot be treated as an asset of community value and certain types of land e.g. land licensed/some non-licensed sites for use as a residential caravan site and operational land of statutory undertakers (transport and utilities).

Who can nominate an asset?

  • Parish Councils
  • Community interest groups with a local connection
  • An unincorporated group whose members include at least 21 members on a local electoral register and whose activities are concerned with the area in which they are nominating or an adjoining area
  • A neighbourhood forum (as constituted under section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act and the Localism Act 2011) can nominate an asset from their own area
  • A neighbouring Parish Council

Please note that only organisations can make nominations – not individuals.

How to get an asset on the list

  • Provide relevant supporting information and send this to the District Council at communityrighttobid@bassetlaw.gov.uk.
  • If the local authority agrees that the asset does have community value, and it is in their local area, then it will add that asset to the ‘assets of community value’ list.
  • If the nomination is unsuccessful the local authority must notify the nominee in writing and provide an explanation as to why the nomination was unsuccessful.
  • The local authority 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 local authority to review the inclusion of the asset from the list and there will be a process for an appeal to an independent body.
  • The local authority 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.

Nomination forms

Please read the Guidance Notes before making a nomination.

Further information on support and funding is available at My Community Rights.

List of assets of community value

The List of Assets of Community Value shows the current successful and unsuccessful nominations:

Guidance notes

  • On 21st September 2012 Part 5, Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Regulations 2012 came into force. The provisions give local groups the right to nominate a building or other land for listing by the Local Authority as an asset of community value. It can be listed if a principal (“non-ancillary”) use of the asset furthers (or has recently furthered) the community’s social wellbeing or social interest (which include cultural, sporting or recreational interests) and is likely to do so in the future. These facilities could include green spaces from community gardens and parks, to orchards and allotments and are not restricted to publicly owned land.
  • Local Authorities are required to maintain a list of land and buildings nominated by local voluntary and community organisations, including Parish Councils, as assets that are of value to the community.
  • When a listed asset comes up for sale, an interim moratorium period of 6 weeks will automatically apply. During this time community interest groups (including Parish councils) will be able to advise the Council that they wish to be treated as a potential bidder. If no such communications are received then the owner will be free to sell at the end of the interim moratorium period.
  • Nominated assets may be owned by anybody, including the Local Authority and the Crown.
  • If a community interest group lodges a wish to be treated as a potential bidder with the Council, the full moratorium period of 6 months will be triggered, and the group will have up to 6 months to prepare a business case and secure funding. The owner cannot dispose of the asset during the applicable moratorium period, other than to a community interest group.
  • The owner cannot dispose of the asset during the applicable moratorium period, other than to a community interest group.

Nominating an Asset

  • It is open to parishes and community organisations, including neighbourhood forums (as constituted under section 61F of The Town & Country Planning Act 1990, added to that Act by the Localism Act) to nominate local assets to their Local Authority to be included on the list of assets of community value.
  • A neighbouring Parish Council can nominate an asset. Where the land is in a parish area, this means a parish which shares a border with it; or if an asset is in an unparished local authority area, so that there is no immediately adjoining parish council within the same local authority area, a parish council that borders the local authority could nominate an asset. 

Contents of the Nomination

  • A nomination must include the following information for the Local Authority to consider:
    • A description of the nominated land including its proposed boundaries. The boundaries do not have to be the same as ownership boundaries, for instance as shown on the Land Registry plan if the land is registered; nor is it necessary for all parts of the nominated site to be in the same ownership.
    • Any information the nominator has about the freeholders, leaseholders and current occupants of the site.
    • The reasons for nominating the asset, explaining why the nominator believes the asset meets the definition in the Act.
    • The nominator’s eligibility to make the nomination.
  • A nomination can be made at any time, including after an asset has been put on to the market. No restrictions on sale arise from nomination, it is only the listing which will cause the statutory provisions to be invoked.
  • The Council’s point of contact for submission and consideration of nomination forms shall be the Principal Solicitor (Planning & Property).
  • The Local Authority will have 8 weeks to decide whether the asset meets the definition set out in Section 88 of the Act or whether it falls into one of the excluded categories, including residential property, set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.
  • If the nominated asset is properly nominated, is in the Local Authority’s area, meets the definition, and is not excluded, the Local Authority must list it and inform all specified parties (including the parish council). They must also place the asset on the Local Land Charges Register and if the land is registered apply for a restriction on the land register in Form QQ.
  • If the owner objects to the property being placed on the list, they will have a right to an internal review by the Council of the decision to list. If the owner remains in disagreement with the listing after the internal review they have a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.
  • If the Local Authority does not agree that the asset nominated meets the section 88 definition or it is one of the excluded categories, they must place it on a list of assets nominated but not listed. If an owner is successful in their appeal against listing at internal review or tribunal stage then the asset must also be moved to the list of unsuccessful nominations.

Moratorium 

  • Once an asset has been listed nothing further will happen unless and until the owner decides to dispose of it, either through a freehold sale, or the grant or assignment of a qualifying lease.
  • Section 95 of the Act sets out the moratorium requirements and Section 96 of the Act defines “Relevant disposal”.
  • If an owner of a listed asset wishes to dispose of the asset they must notify the Council. This will trigger the interim moratorium period of six weeks. This runs from the date the Local Authority receives notification from the owner of their intention to dispose of the listed asset. 
  • The Council must update the list of assets of community value to show the owner’s intention to dispose of the asset. The updated list must give the dates of the interim and full moratorium end dates. 
  • The Council must inform the nominator that the asset is to be disposed of. 
  • During the interim moratorium period the nominator or other community interest groups may advise the Council in writing that they wish to be treated as a potential bidder. The community interest group does not have to provide any evidence of intention or financial resources to make such a bid. A community interest group must have one or more of the following structures:
    • A charity
    • A community interest company 
    • A company limited by guarantee that is non-profit distributing
    • An industrial and provident society that is non-profit distributing 
  • (these groups will be renamed as community benefit societies by the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Act 2010 when the relevant provisions come into force)
  • If the nominator or other community interest groups do not advise the Council that they wish to be treated as a bidder within the interim moratorium period the moratorium period ends and the owner may dispose of the asset and the list should be updated accordingly.
  • When a community interest group makes a written request to the Council during the interim moratorium period to be treated as a potential bidder this triggers the full moratorium period of six months and the owner may not dispose of their asset during this time. 
  • An owner may sell during the interim or full moratorium period to a local community interest group – i.e. one which either did, or would have been eligible to, trigger the full moratorium. 
  • There are a number of types of disposals which are exempt from the moratorium requirements, as set out in section 95(5) of the Act and in Schedule 3 of the Regulations. The full list of exemptions is set out in Annex A. 

Compensation

  • The scheme recognises that these provisions may have some financial impact on owners and provides a compensation scheme for private property owners. This will not be available to public bodies. The Local Authority will be responsible for administering the compensation scheme, including assessing and determining compensation awards. Owners and former owners will have rights of review and appeal regarding the Authority’s compensation decision.

Enforcement

  • The Regulations provide a penalty for non-compliance and measures to minimise the chance of a disposal not being compliant with the scheme.
  • The Council must add that an asset has been listed to the local land charges register. 
  • The Council must notify the owner that their asset has been listed and inform them of the implications. 
  • Owners are required to inform local authorities that the land has been entered on the Land Register as a result of an application for first registration and also to inform the Council if they have become the new owner of listed land, giving their name and address details. 
  • The Council must apply to the Land Registry for entry of a restriction on the Land Register when an asset is listed or when the owner of a listed asset changes.
  • The Council must apply to the Land Registry for cancellation of the restriction when an asset is removed from the list. 
  • When a listed asset is disposed of the Land Registry will need to be provided with a certificate from the conveyance that disposals of listed assets have complied with the moratorium requirements.

Successful nominations

List of Successful Nominations 2025

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
24-792 28/11/2024 Marsh Lane Sports Field and Recreational Ground 15/01/2025

List of Successful Nominations 2024

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
23-856 24/01/2024 The Fox and Hounds, Stockwith Road, Walkeringham, DN10 4JD 19/02/2024

List of Successful Nominations 2022

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
 23-856 19/11/2021 Old Grammer School, Tuxford 04/10/2022

List of Successful Nominations 2018 

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
23-857 26/01/2018 The Pilgrim Fathers, Great North Road, Scrooby 16/03/2018
23-841 28/03/2018 Blue Bell Inn, Great North Road, Ranskill, DN22 BNJ 23/05/2018
22-593 04/04/2018 The Separatist, Great North Road, Torworth, DN22 8NW 23/05/2018
22-590 10/04/2018 Former North Border, Junior School, Shrewsbury Road, Bircotes, DN11 8DD 23/05/2018

List of Successful Nominations 2017 

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
23-848 03/04/2017 Blue Bell Inn, High Street, Gringley on the Hill, DN10 4RF 14/05/2017
23-858 28/04/2017 Queen's Hotel, High Street, East Markham, NG22 0RE 24/05/2017
23-847 18/07/2017 The Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson 29/08/2017

List of Successful Nominations 2015

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
 23-845 18/03/2015 Robin Hood Inn, High Street, Elkesley 12/05/2015

List of Successful Nominations 2014

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
23-859 25/03/2014 Red Hart Public House, Church Street, Misterton 06/06/2014
23-861 04/07/2014 Winston Green, Mattersey Thorpe 08/09/2014
23-855 23/07/2014 Malkin Playground and Car Park, Main Street, West Stockwith 19/09/2014

List of Successful Nominations 2013

File Number Date Nomination Received Asset & Address Date decision to list made
23-846 0905/2013 Sports Facilities on Scrooby Road, Bircotes

08/08/2013

Unsuccessful nominations

List of Unsuccessful Nominations 2023

File Number Name and Location of Asset of Community Value Date nomination received Date of decision to reject nomination
 22-022 Beckingham Bowls Club 18/10/2019 15/12/2023
 22-039 The Gate Inn, Sutton-cum-Lound 06/10/2021 18/12/2023
22-559  The Old Willow Works, Old Trent Road, Beckingham 27/02/2023  
22-592  The Sun Inn, North Wheatley 30/09/2022 18/12/2023

List of Unsuccessful Nominations 2019

File Number Name and Location of Asset of Community Value Date nomination received Date of decision to reject nomination
22-589 Car Park, Main Street, West Stockwith 09/04/2019 29/05/2019

List of Unsuccessful Nominations 2017

File Number Name and Location of Asset of Community Value Date nomination received Date of decision to reject nomination
 23-843 Land at The Green,
Misson (The Pinfold)		 01/11/2016 19/04/2017

List of Unsuccessful Nominations 2014 

File Number Name and Location of Asset of Community Value Date nomination received Date of decision to reject nomination Reason for rejection of nomination
23-846 Flying Scotsman, Hallcroft Road, Retford 08/02/2014 01/05/2014

Invalid Submission

 
List of Unsuccessful Nominations 2013

File Number Name and Location of Asset of Community Value Date nomination received Date of decision to reject nomination Reason for rejection of nomination
23-842 Land at the centre of the village at the crossroads of Town Street and Daneshill Road, Lound. 28/03/2013 24/05/2013 Insufficient information provided with the nomination
23-844 Lound Village Hall and Reading Room, Town Street, Lound, DN22 8RX 28/03/2013 24/05/2013 Insufficient information provided with the nomination
23-849 The Blue Bell Inn, Town Street, Lound, DN22 8RS 23/03/2013 25/05/2013 Insufficient information provided with the nomination
23-860 Vacant land opposite the Reading Room, Town Street, Lound 28/03/2013 24/05/2013 Insufficient information provided with the nomination
 23-884 The Bees Knees Pub, Main Street, Laneham 02/04/2013 17/04/2013  
23-835 Former Health Centre site, Scrooby Road, Bircotes 09/05/2013 08/07/2013 Did not meet the statutory criteria
23-836 Former Miner's Welfare site, off Swinnow Road / Whitehouse Road, Harworth 09/05/2013 05/07/2013 Did not meet the statutory criteria

Last Updated on Wednesday, January 29, 2025