PRESS RELEASE BRADBOURNE VALE ROAD HORSE FIELD SUCCESSFULLY NOMINATED AS AN ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE
Published: 11 November 2024
Sevenoaks Town Council has nominated a number of sites within the last few years for registration as Assets of Community Value, and is pleased that its applications continue to be successful.The latest decision from Sevenoaks District Council is for the successful registration of the horses field on Bradbourne Vale Road, the main use of which the District Council has concluded as furthering the social wellbeing, cultural and recreational interests of the community, as well as it being reasonable to think that this asset will continue to do so. The field is currently leased by one of Sevenoaks Town Mayor Ancrum’s charities, Bradbourne Riding for the Disabled Group and used for events, lessons and therapeutic experiences.
The purpose of the Community Right to Bid scheme, under which the field has been registered, is to allow local community groups the opportunity to purchase assets of community value prior to their being listed on the open market, whereby the community-use could potentially be lost.
The successful nomination means that, should the District Council as landowner decide to sell the asset, the sale would first be paused for an initial period of six weeks (a moratorium), in which time any community group with a local connection can submit an Intention to Bid. If this is received, the moratorium will be extended to six months to give communities the time to prepare a bid and put a business plan together.
Important to note, is that a listing does not oblige the owners to sell only to local groups or those that submit an offer, nor does it prevent the asset from being purchased by private owners on the open market after the moratorium period has ended. It also does not prevent the asset’s use being changed or the site from being redeveloped, as there is no requirement under government legislation for Local Planning Authorities to give an asset’s listing “material” weight. Should an asset’s main use be changed, it will lose its listed status and a
new nomination would be required to prove that the asset’s new use will contribute to the social wellbeing or cultural, recreational or sporting interests of the local community.
Also amongst the successful nominations by the Town Council under the “Community Right to Bid” scheme is The Stag Theatre; Bradbourne Lakes; Kaleidoscope Gallery, Library and Museum, the Public Toilets at St John’s Hill Car Park, Watercress Drive play space, the Adult Education Centre, Scouts 3rd huts, Heathfield Road allotments and of course – Longspring Wood which was recently acquired by the Town Council following an incredible donation campaign which raised over £100,000 towards its purchase and received recognition from His Majesty King Charles III.
The Right to Bid is a national process which allows voluntary and community groups as well as town/parish councils the opportunity to nominate local land and buildings to be included on a list of “assets of community value”. For an asset to be listed, it must be demonstrated that its main current or recent use contributes to the social wellbeing or cultural, recreational, or sporting interests of the community – and that this use will continue.
Full list of Assets currently registered can be found via the District Council’s website via this link, or by visiting the Right to Bid webpage.