Community right to bid

Information about Community Right to Bid and the process to list an asset of community value

The Community Right to Bid gives community groups a fairer chance to ensure that buildings and facilities, which are important to them, stay available for local use. This could include:

  • a village shop
  • pub
  • community centre
  • children's centre
  • allotment

You can do this by asking to have a property or public space listed as an asset of community value. If this happens, when the owner wants to sell it, local community groups will have up to six months to prepare a bid to try and buy it on the open market.

Who can nominate an asset to be listed?

  • Parish councils or neighbouring parish councils
  • Unincorporated groups with a membership of 21 local people
  • Neighbourhood forums as defined within the Localism Act 2011
  • Community interest groups with a local connection that are either a charity, a community interest company, a company limited by guarantee or a non-profit distributing industrial and provident society

Apply to nominate a community asset (pdf 123KB)

If you consider that your application or supporting documents contain confidential or sensitive information please highlight and list what information is considered to be sensitive/confidential and the reasons why on the form “Community Right to Bid – Sensitive/Confidential Information” and submit with the nomination.

Community Right to Bid - Sensitive/Confidential Information (.doc379KB)

To find out more, please read our Community Right to Bid policy. (pdf 275KB)

Once an asset has been listed, nothing further will happen unless the owner decides to dispose of it.

Decision Notices

What happens if the owner decides to sell a listed asset?

If the owner decides to sell the asset, the council will advertise it to the community to find out if there is local interest in bidding for the asset.

If there is community interest, the owner will not be allowed to sell for up to six months to allow for the community to develop a business plan and secure funding to purchase the asset at market value.

After six months, the owner can sell to whoever they choose.

 

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. The Act makes significant amendments to the assets of community value regime in England. 

The relevant provisions are not yet in force, except to the extent commenced for regulation-making purposes.

The main changes include:

  • replacing the community right to bid with a community right to buy
  • giving community groups a first opportunity to purchase listed assets when the owner wishes to sell
  • extending the purchase process to 12 months where a community buyer is identified
  • allowing an owner to request a progress review at the six-month point
  • introducing an independent valuation process where the owner and community buyer cannot agree a price
  • expanding the definition of an asset of community value to include economic wellbeing and economic interests
  • removing the requirement for past community use to have taken place in the recent past
  • introducing sporting assets of community value, with automatic and indefinite listing for qualifying sports grounds and related supporting land
  • introducing review rights for community groups where a nomination is refused

Until the relevant provisions are commenced, the current community right to bid regime under the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012 continues to apply in England

 

If you wish to discuss your proposal further, please phone 01271 388253 or email communityengagement@northdevon.gov.uk