Assets of community value

In neighbourhoods across the country there are buildings and areas of land that are important to the communities that use them, such as village shops, village greens, pubs, community centres and libraries.

The Localism Act allows local groups to nominate buildings and land that they consider are of value to the community, to be included on a list of assets of community value.

If an asset on the list is put up for sale, community groups are given an opportunity to express an interest in buying it.  That will trigger a six month period during which they can raise funds and make an offer to the owner.

The list of assets of community value is maintained by the council.  If we decide to list a building or area of land as an asset of community value, this does not mean that the owner is forced to sell it, or to keep it open for the public to use.  However, if the owner does decide to sell, local group can pause the sale for up to six months in order to organise a bid to buy it.  At the end of the six months, the owner may decide to sell the asset to a community group, or to another bidder or to withdraw it from sale.  Listing a building or area of land provides time for local people to raise funds, but it cannot force the owner to sell an asset to a community group.

View the Community Right to Bid (PDF, 33KB)

Nominating a building or area of land

The first step is to nominate the building or area of land you'd be interested in bidding for as an asset of community value using the nomination form.

When we receive a nomination, we will assess it carefully to see whether it qualifies as an asset of community value according to the tests set out in the Localism Act.  Nominating organisations must provide evidence that their organisation qualifies to make a nomination and that the building or land is currently used in a way that benefits the community, or has been in community use in the recent past.  If there is insufficient evidence we may not be able to make a decision on the nomination. We have eight weeks from when we receive a nomination to make a decision, and we will need to check that the nominating organisation meets the criteria set out in the regulations and that the building or land qualifies as an asset.   We will notify the landowner, any occupiers of the building or land and the local town or parish council that we have received a nomination and we will ask them for comments.  We will also put public notices on the site and put a notice in a local paper inviting comments from the public.

Assets of Community Value Nomination form

If we consider that the nominated site meets the tests set out in the legislation, we will include it on the list.  Assets are removed from the list after period of five years.   For more information on the community right to bid, visit GOV.UK.

Buildings and land that are included on the list

We've listed these buildings and areas of land as assets of community value:

Asset of community value
Building or facility 
Location
Nominated by
Date included on list
Jubilee House (PDF, 221KB) Everist Court, 63 Station Road, Lyminge, CT18 8HQ
Lyminge Community Hub
Community Interest Company (CIC)
 17 June 2025
Land west of Coast Drive, between Kerton Road and Battery Road
Lydd Town Council
17 March 2025
 
Radnor Park Avenue, Folkestone
Save Folkestone Sports Centre
21/10/2024
St. Andrews Road, Littlestone, New Romney
The Friends of Romney Warren
25 August 2024
Mill Lane, Stelling Minnis
Stelling Minnis Parish Council
10 March 2024
School Hill, Bodsham, Ashford
Elmsted Parish Council
7 August 2023
Grace Hill, Folkestone
New Folkestone Society
17 July 2023
Church Road, Burmarsh, Romney Marsh 
Burmarsh Parish Council 
23 August 2021

Update on Folkestone Library

The district council received notice on 7 March 2025 from the landowners, Kent County Council, that they wish to sell the site. On 14 April 2025, the district council received an expression of interest in buying the library from an organisation which qualifies as a community interest group under the regulations. A full six-month moratorium period has therefore been triggered. This period will end on 7 September 2025. During this period the owner may continue to market and negotiate sales but must not exchange contracts (or enter into a binding contract to do so) unless it is to a community interest group.

Unsuccessful nominations

There are no unsuccessful nominations within the last five years.

Pending nominations

There are no pending nominations.