Community Assets
As part of the Localism Act (2011) a community now have the right to list assets of community value. This affords some protection to these assets and ultimately gives a community the opportunity to acquire them to preserve their use and value to the community. Listing the asset does not mean that the community has to buy this asset, but ensures that they have the right to be consulted before it is sold or lost and delays that sale, if the community has a serious interest in acquiring it.
Certain types of property are excluded from being listed, such as purely residential property, land licensed for use as a residential caravan site and the operational property of statutory undertakers (such as key road, canal and rail networks). Although the Act notes that "social interests" includes "cultural, recreational and sporting interests" the phrase "social well-being", also used, can apply to a much broader set of activities.
An initial list of assets suggested for consideration is given below, but some listed, and perhaps others, may already have better protection that can be given by their listing as a community asset, e.g. schools, playing fields, churches, common land, ancient monuments etc. However for the moment all those suggested to date have been included.
Possible Community Assets for Listing:
