Right to bid scheme

The community right to bid scheme gives community groups a fairer chance to save things in private or public ownership that are important to them.

This could include the

• village shop
• pub
• community centre
• children’s centre
• allotment
• library
• cinema
• recreation ground

We have to keep a list of all assets of community value. Community value means

• the main use of the asset furthers the social wellbeing or cultural, recreational or sporting interests of the local community
• the asset can continue to be used to further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community, or will do so again in the next five years

Owners of a listed asset who want to sell must tell us. There is an initial six-week period for local community groups to register their interest to buy. If an interest is registered by an eligible group, the asset cannot be sold for six months, which allows the group to prepare a bid to buy it before the asset can be sold.

Independent support is available from Locality, a national network appointed by the government to provide advice and help on community rights.