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Assets of community value and community right to bid

Find out how community groups and parish councils can bid to buy spaces and places that are important to local people.

Assets of Community Value 

Community groups can nominate buildings and land of importance to the local community to be added to our register of Assets of Community Value (ACV’s). This applies to both private and publicly owned buildings and land. 

To be listed as an ACV, the asset’s main purpose must:

  • be to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the community, or
  • recently been to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the community, and
  • be likely to continue and improve the wellbeing and interests of the community in the future

Community Right to Bid

If an ACV comes up for sale, community groups can use their Community Right to Bid. This allows you six months to raise the funds before bidding on the asset and gives you a better chance to:

  • raise finance
  • develop a business
  • make a bid to buy the asset on the open market

At the end of period, the owner can may sell the asset to whoever and whatever price they choose. 

Guidance on assets of community value and community right to bid

Detailed information and guidance can be found at:

The current register of assets of community value

Register of assets of community value for the Barrow area
Register of assets of community value for the Eden area
Register of assets of community value for the South Lakeland area

How to nominate a building or land to be added to the register

How to nominate an asset 

Complete an online nomination form

Alternatively, you can complete an Asset of Community Value Nomination form (DOC , 39KB).

Please return your nomination form to us by email or post:

Email: acv@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Post: Assistant Director 
Safe and Strong Communities
Westmorland and Furness Council
South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal 
LA9 4DQ

When to nominate an asset 

Nominations can be made at any time, including after a potential asset has been put onto the market. However, no restrictions on sale arise from nomination. It's only listing the asset on the ACV register which brings the statutory provisions into play and thereby protects it from immediate sale. Therefore, before you exercise your community right to bid, the asset must be registered as an ACV. 

How we assess nominations

We assess each case on its merits, with particular reference to the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012.

Our Asset of Community Value Policy (PDF , 188KB)

A step-by-step guide to the ACV and Community Right to Bid process

Step 1: identify the asset

What qualifies as an Asset of Community Value
Mapping community assets
Identifying assets of community value

Step 2: check your eligibility 

Make sure your group qualifies to nominate ACV’s and bid for community assets.

Step 3: list an asset 

If the asset is not already included in the ACV register, you must nominate the building or land to be added to the register.

Nominating an asset of community value

Step 4: asset on sale 

If the owner decides to sell a listed asset, we will tell you that it’s up for sale. However, there are exceptions to this. For advice about this, please contact us by email at acv@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk 

Step 5: decide if you want to make a community bid

After we tell you that an ACV is for sale, you have six weeks to decide if you want to bid on it. When a group tells us that they would like to bid, this is called an ‘expression of interest’.

Getting ready to bid 
Triggering the moratorium

Step 6: making a community bid

You have six months to prepare and submit a bid to buy the ACV. The six months start from the date we told you the asset is up for sale. Your bid should include a detailed description of: 

  • why your group best placed to take over the asset
  • how you would finance the purchase
  • how you would run the asset

The more people in your community you can involve the better. It will help your bid to get support from people such as: 

Bidding for an asset of community value

Step 7: owner’s decision 

After the six months have passed, the owner of the asset can decide which bid they will accept. They do not have to accept your bid. The six-month period is only to allow you time to sort out funding, so that you can make a bid.

Step 8: successful community group bid

If the owner decides to sell the asset to your community group, with the funding already in place, you can go ahead with the process of buying the asset from the current owner. 

The asset would then be in the ownership of your community group to manage and run.

Managing an asset of community value