Assets of community value

The community right to bid for assets of community value allows parish councils or community groups to ask the Council to list certain assets as being of value to the community.

If an asset is listed and then comes up for sale, communities that want it will have six months to put together a bid to buy it. The land owner cannot sell the land during this time and it will give communities an increased chance to attempt to save much loved shops, pubs or other local facilities. While the owner will become aware of a community bid they are not bound to sell to a community group and will still be free to sell the land as they see fit. Assets that meet the definition of community value can be nominated for listing regardless as to whether they are in the public or private sector.

A building or land in Darlington Borough Council’s area will be listed as an asset of community value if in the opinion of the Council:

(current use) the current primary use of the building/land furthers the social well-being or social interests of the local community AND it is realistic to think that there could continue to be primary use of the building/land which will further the social well-being or social interests of the local community (whether or not in the same way as it is currently used)

Or

(past use) the land/ building is not currently land of community value but in the recent past (five years) the primary use of building/land was to further the social well-being or social interests of the local community AND it is realistic to think that in the next five years there could be primary use of the building/land which will further the social well-being or social interests of the local community (whether or not in the same way as before)

In this context social interests include cultural, recreational and sporting interests.

In addition to meeting the above requirements (relating to current use or past use) the land must not be in a category of asset which is excluded. Schedule 1 of the Regulations set out the assets that are excluded. The main one is residential property (this includes land that is reasonable to consider as part of residence).

Once a nomination is accepted and the building or land is listed the owner cannot dispose of that building or land without:

• letting Darlington Borough Council know that they intend to sell the asset or grant a lease of more than 25 years
• waiting until the end of a six week ‘interim moratorium’ period if Darlington Borough Council does not receive a request from a community group to be treated as a potential bidder
• waiting until the end of a six month ‘full moratorium’ period if Darlington Borough Council does receive a request from a community group to be treated as a potential bidder

The owner does not have to sell the asset to the community group.

There is also a ‘protected period’ (18 months from the time that the owner notified the local authority of their intention to dispose of the asset) – during this time there can be no further moratoriums.

The process

The regulations [external link] and explanatory note [external link] published by Government provide detailed information on:

• the bodies that can make nominations
• land that is exempt from being listed
• the steps that Darlington Borough Council has to take when considering to list land as an asset of community value and upon listing that land
• arrangements for owners to make appeals on decisions to list or award compensation on any losses incurred as a result of being listed (including internal reviews and external tribunals)
• exemptions to the six month moratorium being applied when land is put up for sale or long term lease

When a completed nomination is received a decision will be made within eight weeks as to whether to list the asset. The asset will then be placed on a list of successful or unsuccessful nominations on Darlington Borough Council’s website.

A nomination form to list an asset as being of community value is available, which should be returned to [email protected]. Notes are also available, which should be read before completing the form. 

Supporting documents

• Community right to bid nomination form [pdf document]
• Operational policy [pdf document]

Assets of community value: nominated sites

• Documents viewable on www.darlington.gov.uk/PA  Please use the Ref number to search 

Assets of community value: nominated sites

Ref	Name	Address	Type	Nominating organisation	Target decision date
				No Current Nominations

Assets of community value: listed sites

Assets of community value: listed sites

Ref	Name	Address	Type	Date of nomination	Nominating organisation	Date listed	Date of intended disposal notice	Date of end of initial moratorium	Date of end of full moratorium	Expiry of listing
01/19	Old goods shed and yard	Station Road, Darlington	Former railway goods shed and yard	29/04/2019	Darlington Railway Preservation Trust	17/06/19				17/06/24
20/00002/ACV	Town Farm Field	Land on South West Side of Tithe House, Middleton Road, Sadberge, Darlington DL2 1RP	Agricultural Grazing Land	20/02/2020	Sadberge Parish Council	02/10/20				02/10/25
21/00001/ACV	The Tuns, Sadberge	Sadberge, DL2 1 RU	Public House - Relisting	10/02/21	Sadberge Parish Council	27/08/21				27/08/26
21/00002/ACV	The Buck Inn, Sadberge	Middleton Road, Sadberge DL2 1RR	Public House - Relisting	10/02/21	Sadberge Parish Council	27/08/21				27/08/26
21/00003/ACV	Sadberge Village Hall	Darlington Road, Sadberge DL2 1SB	Village Hall - Relisting	10/02/21	Sadberge Parish Council	27/08/21				27/08/26
22/00001/ACV	The Kings Arms Hotel, Great Stainton	The Green, Great Stainton, Stockton on Tees, Co Durham TS21 1NA	Public House	19/08/22	The Kings Arms Great Stainton Action Group	19/12/22				19/12/27

Assets of community value: Expired Listings

Assets of community value: Removed Listings

Assets of community value: Removed Listings

Ref	Name	Address	Type	Date of nomination	Nominating organisation	Date listed	Date of intended disposal notice	Date of end of initial moratorium	Date of end of full moratorium	Removal of listing
20/00001/ACV	Platform 1	Darlington Road, Middleton St George DL2 1JT	Public House	30/01/2020	Middleton St George Parish Council	16/04/20	04/05/20	14/06/20	03/11/2020 - An expression of Interest has been received	02/11/21 following relevant disposal

List of unsuccessful community nominations