Community rights

Assets of Community Value

The Localism Act 2011 introduced a new Community Right referred to as the Community Right to Bid which allows town and parish councils and defined community groups to ask the Council to list certain assets as being of community value.

The purpose of the Community Right to Bid is to assist local community groups to preserve buildings or land which are of importance to their community's social well-being. The Right to Bid provision does this through regulating that when a listed asset comes up for sale there is a delay in the sale process. This delay should give an increased chance for the local community to bid to buy the asset.

Nominating an Asset of Community Value

A community nomination can be made by a parish/town council or a voluntary or community body with a local connection. The nomination must include certain information – please use:

Expression of interest to purchase an asset of community value

The owner of a building or land that is listed as an Asset of Community Value must notify the Council when they intend to sell or lease the property (unless an exemption applies). The Council will update the website list with the intended sale, inform the nominating organisation and publicise the sale in the local community. Any eligible community interest group that is interested in making a bid must write to us within 6 weeks of our receipt of the owner's notification of their planned sale. Please complete and return:

If we do not receive a request within 6 weeks, the owner can proceed with the sale/lease. If we do receive a request, the owner cannot sell or lease the land for 6 months (as explained in the Assets of Community Value - guidance notes), giving time for any community interest group(s) to prepare a bid. The owner does not have to sell to a community interest group but if they choose to do so, the sale can take place during the moratorium.

List of Assets of Community Value

The List of Assets of Community Value contains details of the successful and unsuccessful community asset nominations. For each asset, the List sets out a range of information that is defined in the Assets of Community Value Regulations.

Date of notice of intention to sell:17/12/2014(Effective date as sale underway at the date of the listing decision)End date for interim moratorium: 27/01/2015Date full moratorium triggered: 26/01/2015Full moratorium triggered by: Witney & District MuseumEnd date for full moratorium: 16/06/2015Protected period ends: 16/06/2016

ACV9

The Harcourt ArmsMain RoadStanton HarcourtWitneyOxonOX29 5RJ

21/01/2015

20/01/2020

ACV10

Long Hanborough - public open space adjacent to Riely Close (incorporating skate park and BMX facility) Land Registry Title Number ON284881

20/02/2015

19/02/2020

ACV11

The Bull InnSheep StreetCharlbury, Chipping NortonOX7 3RR

02/04/2015

01/04/2020

ACV12

The Hand and ShearsChurch HanboroughOxfordshireOX29 8AB

27/05/2015

26/05/2020

ACV13

Entry removed

ACV14

Fulbrook Play ParkMeadow EndFulbrookBurfordOX18 4BQ

29/07/2015

28/07/2020

ACV15

The White HorseThe RidingsStonesfieldOxfordshireOX29 8EA

11/01/2016

10/01/2021

Note: the Asset of Community Value listing relates to the Public House only and does not include the former function room of The White Horse that is now a completed new residential dwelling known as The Stables, The Ridings, Stonesfield OX29 8EA

ACV16

Entry removed

ACV17

The Falkland Arms19 - 21 The GreenGreat TewOxfordshireOX7 4DB

01/06/2016

31/05/2021

ACV18

Swinbrook Road AllotmentsKilkenny LaneCartertonOxfordshireOX18 1DT

30/01/2018

29/01/2023

ACV19

Gardiner Arms93 Medcroft RoadTackleyOxfordshireOX5 3AH

10/05/2018

09/05/2023

List of unsuccessful nominations

Ref

Property address

Date of decision

Reason for decision

ACVR1

Carpenters ArmsFulbrookBurfordOX18 4BH

29/07/2015

Insufficient information to satisfy the assessment as to whether the property furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

ACVR2

Land west of FruitlandsEynsham

27/01/2016

The nominated land is not of community value within the meaning set out in the legislation. The relevant test in the Localism Act at Section 88(2)(b) is not satisfied. The test concerns the realism of future use that would further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

ACVR3

Standlake Post Office and Stores19 High StreetStandlakeOX29 7RH

24/02/2016

Nomination withdrawn

ACVR4

The Bell Inn21 High StreetStandlakeWitneyOX29 7RH

24/02/2016

Nomination withdrawn

ACVR5

The Black Horse81 High StreetStandlakeOX29 7RH

24/02/2016

Nomination withdrawn

ACVR6

Oxford Downs Cricket ClubAbingdon RoadStandlakeOxfordshire

24/02/2016

Nomination withdrawn

ACVR7

Carpenters ArmsFulbrook HillFulbrookBurfordOX18 4BH

12/01/2017

Insufficient evidence to satisfy the assessment as to whether the property furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.

ACVR8

Carterton Police StationBurford RoadCartertonOX18 3AG

28/02/2017

The nominated building is an operational and administrative office - public access has been minimal. The building does not satisfy the statutory test in the Localism Act at either section 88(1)(a) or 88(2)(a).

ACVR9

Freeland Methodist ChurchWroslyn RoadFreelandWitneyOX29 8HJ

05/09/2017

Insufficient evidence to satisfy the assessment as to whether the building/land has furthered the social wellbeing or interests of the local community in the recent past. The nomination fails to meet the definition of an Asset of Community Value in the statutory test at Section 88(2)(a) of the Localism Act 2011.

ACVR10

The Lamb Inn

Leafield Road

Crawley

Witney

OX29 9TW

24/10/2017

Insufficient evidence to satisfy the assessment as to whether the property has furthered the social wellbeing/ social interests of the local community and thereby meets the definition of an Asset of Community Value as set out in the relevant statutory test at Section 88(2)(a) of the Localism Act 2011.

ACVR11

Freeland Methodist Church

Wroslyn Road

Freeland

Witney

OX29 8HJ

09/11/2017

In terms of the uses of the building in the recent past, Freeland Methodist Church cannot be listed as an Asset of Community Value as it does not fall within the scope allowable in the legislation and the limitations of the relevant statutory test. The past community uses submitted in the nomination are deemed to be ancillary uses (i.e. types of use that are subordinate and secondary) when set in the context of the primary use of the building as a place of religious worship. To satisfy the statutory test the relevant community use must not be an ancillary use of the property. For this reason the nomination fails the statutory test at Section 88(2)(a) of the Localism Act 2011.

ACVR12

Freeland Methodist Church

Wroslyn Road

Freeland

Witney

OX29 8HJ

30/01/2018

In terms of the uses of the building in the recent past, Freeland Methodist Church cannot be listed as an Asset of Community Value as it does not fall within the scope allowable in the legislation and the limitations of the relevant statutory test. The past community uses submitted in the nomination are deemed to be ancillary uses (i.e. types of use that are subordinate and secondary) when set in the context of the primary use of the building as a place of religious worship. To satisfy the statutory test the relevant community use must not be an ancillary use of the property. For this reason the nomination fails the statutory test at Section 88(2)(a) of the Localism Act 2011.