Colchester City Council has announced that the nomination to list Middlewick Ranges as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has not been successful.
Community groups have the right to nominate land, buildings, or structures that have historically furthered the social wellbeing or interests of the local community. If successful, these assets are added to Colchester City Council’s ACV Register.
In January 2024, the council received a nomination to designate Middlewick Ranges as an Asset of Community Value. It is imperative that applications are thoroughly assessed against the nationally prescribed criteria, and, after careful consideration, it has been determined that a significant portion of the land included in the nomination is restricted from public use. This has rendered Middlewick Ranges ineligible to meet the criteria necessary for inclusion on the register.
Despite the unsuccessful nomination, the council has provided guidance to the community group who nominated the land, and there remains the possibility of a future nomination.
If land or buildings are registered as Assets of Community Value, certain procedures are brought into play. In the first instance, the community group can submit a request to be treated as a potential buyer should the asset come up for sale. This would then allow the community group to prepare a bid to acquire the site or building. They would have six months to do this during which time the land could not be sold unless it is to the community group. After this period, the owner would have the right to sell the land or building to any party at any price, as stipulated by regulations. There is no requirement to sell to the community group, even if they submitted the highest bid.
Cllr Andrea Luxford Vaughan, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environment and Sustainability, said: “I understand the disappointment this decision may bring to the community. However, we have no other option than to consider applications against the prescribed criteria.”
Page last reviewed: 14 March 2024