The Government is encouraging people to take advantage of powers that can prevent anything from historic parks and museums to theatres and libraries being sold or altered without the knowledge of the local community.

Since 2012, community groups have been using the Community Right to Bid to nominate any building or land for listing by their Local Authority as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

If the asset comes up for sale, the community can delay the sale by up to six months, providing a chance to raise the funding to bid to buy the asset, on behalf of the community.

Since 2012 more than 3,000 treasured assets have been listed and the number continues to grow.  In London, Dulwich Park Friends successfully nominated Dulwich Park as an Asset of Community Value to Southwark Council in April 2014; and in February 2015, Ilkley Civic Society secured Ilkley Town Hall nomination on the basis that it was a community space of historical interest.

Now the Department for Communities and Local Government has produced an easy-to-use guide for anyone looking to use these powers.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of HLF said: “Local communities often feel incredibly strongly about their heritage, recognising the role it plays in creating vibrant and attractive places to work, live and visit.  The ability to nominate everything from a park or museum to a local landmark building as an Asset of Community Value is a powerful tool, helping communities come together and protect the parts of their neighbourhood that matter to them the most.”

Further information is available at the My Community Rights website.

DCLG has also produced an interactive map showing listed assets of community value.