How the Community Right to Bid works

Who can submit nominations?

A number of community organisations can nominate land and buildings for inclusion on the list; parish councils, neighbourhood forums (as defined in Neighbourhood Planning Regulations), unincorporated community groups of at least 21 members, community interest groups with a local connection.

East Suffolk Council require unincorporated nominating groups to provide evidence of an organised effort to take an asset in to community ownership. This evidence should include a constitution, clear aims and objectives, and evidence that they meet at least semi-regularly over a reasonable timescale.

Social media groups/pages, petitions or similar provision will not be considered sufficient to demonstrate a focused effort to achieve the aims of community ownership of an asset.

How do I submit a nomination?

You can complete an online community asset nomination form.

Alternatively, a Microsoft Word version of the community asset nomination form is available to download, complete and return.

Completed forms can be submitted by email or by post to our Communities team. Only nominations submitted on either of the forms above will be accepted. 

What happens once a nomination has been received?

Once a nomination has been received, the council has up to 8 weeks in which to consider it and reach a decision on whether or not it is valid and a listing should be made. Interested parties will be given six weeks to respond to the nomination and the decision will be made following this period, no later than 8 weeks from the date of submission of a complete application.

The Communities Team will inform the owners and occupiers of the asset in question when we receive a nomination. If it nomination meets the legislations requirements, it will be included on a list of Assets of Community Value for 5 years and recorded as a local land charge. The owners and occupiers of the asset will also be informed.

If the nomination does not meet the criteria, it will be included on a list of unsuccessful nominations and the owners/occupiers will be informed.

If a nomination is unsuccessful, the council will write to the owner and nominator giving the reasons why.

Requests to ‘Fast Track’ nominations

We occasionally receive requests to reach a listing decision quicker than the standard timescales dictate.

All nominations are received and processed in an identical manner, and no requests for a priority consultation will be accepted.

Commercial properties and business viability consideration

The spirit of the Localism Act aims to provide opportunity for Assets of Community Value to be taken into community ownership. Due to the difficulties in obtaining independent opinion on a commercial property or business, the issue of business viability will not be considered during the application from either the nominating group or asset owner.