An Asset of Community Value (ACV) is land or buildings nominated by a local voluntary or community group, which the council decides meets the requirements to be listed as an Asset of Community Value.

Land or buildings are of community value if either:

the main use of the land or building furthers the social wellbeing or interests of the local community and it's realistic that the main use will continue
the land or building has been used to further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community in the recent past and it's realistic to consider it will do so again in the next 5 years.

There are 3 categories excluded from listing:

residential property
land licensed for use as a residential caravan site (and some types of residential caravan sites, which do not need a licence)
operational land, such as land used for railways, canals or airports.

The statutory rules about Assets of Community Value can be found in sections 87 - 103 of the Localism Act 2011 (opens new window) and in The Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012 (opens new window).

Making a nomination

Voluntary and community organisations with a local connection have the right to nominate assets for inclusion on the list.

If you're interested in nominating an asset, read the Asset of Community Value guidance notes (PDF) [80KB], then complete a Asset of Community Value nomination form (PDF) [54KB].

Submit your application by either:

email: jwheatley@hillingdon.gov.uk
post: Assets of Community Value, Policy Team, 3E/02 Civic Centre, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW.

For more information, contact John Wheatley on the Policy Team at the email address above or by calling 01895 556449.

What happens next?

Once we've received your nomination form, we'll check it's complete and that your group is eligible to nominate. If so, the nomination will be entered into the assessment process. We'll then have 8 weeks to decide whether the asset meets the definition set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011 (PDF) [2MB]. The owners and any occupiers of the asset will be notified about the nomination.

When we've made a decision, we'll notify the owner and the nominating group and add the asset to either our:

Assets of Community Value Register (currently no assets listed), or
the list of unsuccessful ACV nominations (PDF) [65KB], giving the reasons why the asset has not been listed.

Listed Assets of Community Value can stay on the local authority's list for up to 5 years.

Bidding for an Asset of Community Value

Under the Community Right to Bid, an owner of an asset listed on the ACV Register must let us know when they want to dispose of the asset. We will then:

let the nominating group know
publicise the owner's intention in the local area
amend the Hillingdon ACV Register to show the end dates of the interim and full moratorium periods and the protected period.

How to make a bid

If a voluntary or community group wants to buy the asset, it has 6 weeks to let the council know. Once an expression of interest has been received, a further 4½ month pause in the sale process is triggered. This gives potential bidders a total of 6 months to raise the funds required to purchase the asset. At the end of the period, the owner may sell it to whoever and at whatever price they choose.

If you're interested in making an expression of interest/intention to bid for a listed asset coming up for sale, please contact us.

Please note: You'll need to get in touch before the interim moratorium end date entered on the Assets of Community Value Register.

The owner's rights

If an asset has been nominated, we'll notify the owner and any occupiers. We'll also notify the owner if the nomination has been successful and whether the asset has been listed.
If the owner objects to their property being placed on the list, they have the right to ask us to review the decision. If the owner remains unsatisfied with our decision after this internal review, they have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal.
Owners may claim compensation for loss and expense incurred through the asset being listed. The regulations provide for a claim arising from, for example, a period of delay in entering into a binding agreement to sell, which is wholly caused by the interim or full moratorium period or from legal expenses incurred in a successful appeal to the tribunal.
Once an asset is listed, the owner must let the authority know if they want to dispose of it. Community groups will then be given 6 weeks to decide if they want to make a bid. If they do, then there will be a 6 month moratorium period during which the owner cannot sell the asset. Please note: the owner does not have to sell the asset to the community group.