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Assets of Community Value

A community wishing to make a bid for an asset that has come up for sale should notify us in writing using the online intention to bid form. 

What is an Asset of Community Value (ACV)?

The Localism Act describes an asset of community value as a building or other land in a local authority’s area, which is of community value, if in the opinion of the authority:

  • an actual current use of the building or other land, which is not an ancillary use, furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community 
  • it is realistic to think that there can continue to be non-ancillary use of the building or other land which will further (in the same or different way) the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

Buildings or land can also be considered as an asset of community value if:

  • in the recent past it has furthered the social wellbeing or interests of the local community 
  • it is realistic to think that within the next 5 years it would further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community.

Examples of land which is not of community value and therefore may not be listed could be:

  • residential properties and land connected to a residential property
  • caravan sites
  • operational land as defined in section 263 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
  • hotels (although there are exceptions if its main use is not the accommodation element) 

For increased accessibility, YouTube has a "captions" feature that can be enabled when the embedded videos are watched on their platform.

A community wishing to nominate an asset of community value for the register must first contact  partnerships@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713070 and ask for a call back from one of our officers who will talk you through the requirements for a nomination and the process that must be followed. Please also refer to the Community Right to Bid Assessment Criteria. [PDF, 0.3MB]

They will also arrange for an Asset Nomination weblink and other useful information to be sent to you.

Note: For increased accessibility, YouTube has a "captions" feature that can be enabled when the embedded videos are watched on their platform.

Assets can be nominated by:

  • Parish Councils – Any parish council within the borders of South Cambridgeshire may nominate an asset in their parish to the District Council. A parish may also nominate an asset in a neighbouring parish (where there is a shared boundary), or a neighbouring local authority (if the parish shares a border with an unparished area)
  • Unincorporated groups: Nominations can be accepted from any unincorporated group of at least 21 local people who appear on the electoral roll within the local authority or neighbouring local authority
  • Neighbourhood Forums: the procedure for becoming a neighbourhood forum is set out in section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 [PDF, 2MB]
  • Community interest groups with one of the following structures:
    • A charity
    • A community interest company
    • A company limited by guarantee that is non-profit distributing
    • A so called ‘registered society’ (known formerly as an ‘industrial and provident society’) that is non-profit distributing

We have produced a Guidance and Procedure document [PDF, 0.9MB] detailing our approach to the Community Right to Bid/Assets of Community Value (ACV).

This includes sections about:

  • Who can nominate
  • What qualifies as an ACV
  • The asset register
  • Relevant disposal
  • Moratorium ("window of opportunity")
  • Receiving and assessing a nomination for an ACV
  • Listing review
  • Compensation
  • Enforcement

Planning rules for ACV listed pubs

Rules surrounding the conversion of pubs to other uses came into force on 6 April 2015 and these are detailed in the ACV Guidance and Procedure document. [PDF, 0.9MB]

Please visit the planning portal to the Town and Country Planning Use Class for further guidance. 

Decisions and appeals

Owners of listed assets can ask us to review the inclusion of an asset on the list - this is called an Internal Review [PDF, 0.2MB].

If this review upholds the listing, an appeal to an independent body, called a First Tier Tribunal can be pursued by the Owner.

For details of the Internal Reviews we have undertaken so far, please contact partnerships@scambs.gov.uk

Our Community Asset Register

The tables below show the details of assets nominated, decisions reached, decisions under review and open moratoria. Please note, the below tables are currently under review. In the meantime, please contact us if you believe any information is incorrect and/or requires updating.

South Cambridgeshire District Council - Asset register [XLSX, 32Kb]

South Cambridgeshire District Council - De-listed, withdrawn or refused register  [XLSX, 49Kb]

Below is a list of our Assets of Community Value that currently fall within the following periods. Please refer to the Asset register for relevant dates.

Interim Moratorium

  • None

Full Moratorium

  • The Ickleton Lion Public House, Ickleton

Within the protected period of suspension

  • Waggon and Horses Public House, Steeple Morden
  • The Pear Tree (The Pear and Olive), Hildersham
  • The Chestnut Tree Public House, West Wratting
  • The White Lion Public House, Sawston
  • The Belle Public House, Bassingbourn
  • The Navigator Public House, Little Shelford
  • First School Playing Field and Scout Hut, Gamlingay
  • The Rupert Brooke Public House and Restaurant, Grantchester
  • Duke of Wellington Public House, Willingham

Examples of Community assets include:

  • Nurseries and schools, health centres, surgeries and hospitals, day care centres
  • Parks and open green spaces, sports and leisure centres, libraries/theatres/museums or heritage sites 
  • Community centres, youth centres, public toilets 
  • Village shops and pubs - which also provide an important local social benefit which would no longer be easily available if that service should cease 

More than a pub

The Community Pub Business Support Programme is a two-year programme established to help support community ownership of pubs in England. Its value is £3.62 million and is jointly funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and Power to Change. 

It is led by the Plunkett Foundation, and delivered in collaboration with Co-operative & Community Finance, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Co-operative Mutual Solutions, Pub is the Hub, and Locality. This programme will offer the community pub sector access to an end-to-end support programme, including capacity building and a finance package made up of loans and grants.

News and Events

From time to time we run Community Pubs events to provide information and updates on:

  • The changes in legislation affecting pubs listed as Assets of Community Value
  • The help that we can give through reductions in business rates
  • Free broadband connection vouchers for pub businesses
  • How to utilise social media to market your pub

Visit the following links for further information about:

Related Information

Contact Details