Neighbourhood planning and Assets of Community Value

The ‘made’ neighbourhood plans in Hart are listed on the Plans and Policies page. These form part of the development plan for Hart.

Winchfield Parish Council are currently preparing an updated neighbourhood plan. The regulation 14 version of the plan can be viewed on the Winchfield Parish Council website. 

This page will be updated with details of the regulation 16 public consultation when they become available.

Supporting documents are listed below.

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening opinion
• Screening Determination for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

Hart District Council has produced the following advice for those preparing Neighbourhood Plans.

• Hart District Council Neighbourhood Planning Support
• Setting up a Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group
• Strategic Development Plan policies
• Equalities Impact Assessment and Neighbourhood Plans
• The weight attached to emerging Neighbourhood Plans
• Referendum Guidance for ward and parish councillors and campaigners

Grants

See Locality Neighbourhood Planning for details of financial and other support.

Other sources of information

• My Community
• Neighbourhood Plans Road Map Guide
• Planning Advisory Service
• Locality Neighbourhood Planning
• The Royal Town Planning Institute/Planning Aid England
• National Planning Policy Framework
• National Planning Guidance
• Planning for the environment at neighbourhood level

The current list of Assets of Community Value in the district can be found at Register of Assets of Community Value.

An Asset of Community Value (ACV) is land or buildings nominated by a Town or Parish Council or certain local voluntary or community groups and which the Council decides meets the requirements to be listed as an asset of community value. Listing as an ACV gives the local community an opportunity to make a bid for the asset when it comes up for sale. 

To qualify as an ACV the actual current (or recent past) use of the nominated land or building must further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community. It must also be realistic to think that there can continue to be non-ancillary use of the land or building that will further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community. 
Assets of Community Value might include:

• village shops
• public houses
• community centres
• libraries
• playing fields

Once listed as an Asset of Community Value, the local community will be informed if they are put up for sale within the five-year listing period.  If they express a wish to do so, local community interest groups then have the chance to ‘pause’ the sale for a period of 6 months so they can prepare to bid for it, known as the Community Right to Bid. 

The property cannot be sold within this 6-month period, but at the end of this time the owner still has the right to sell to whomever they choose. 

Community organisations which have a local connection and whose activities are concerned with the local area can nominate assets to be listed, including:

• parish and town councils
• neighbourhood forums
• unconstituted community groups with at least 21 local members [members must appear on the Hart electoral roll and address details will be required]
• charities

If you would like to nominate a building or land, please complete our online ACV form.

You can also download a copy of the ACV nomination form. 

You will need sufficient evidence to support your nomination. This should include:

• A description of the land or building nominated for listing, including a location plan and a copy of the land registry entry
• Information about the owners and/or occupiers of the land or building
• Information about how the nominated asset furthers the social well-being/interests of the local community and plans for future activities, including but not limited to:
  • Evidence of activities, clubs, meetings etc
  • How frequently these are held
  • Who uses the nominated asset and benefits from any activities provided
  • Links to web sites or published material promoting the asset and its activities

• If the asset is no longer in use, when it was last in use and what plans there are to bring into use as an asset that furthers social well-being/interests.

When we receive a nomination, we will assess whether sufficient details have been provided prior to consulting with relevant owners and occupiers for their comments. Owners of these assets have the right to appeal a decision to list their property as an ACV.

The asset will then be placed on a register of successful and unsuccessful nominations on the Council’s website. The asset will remain on the list for 5 years, after which the listing will expire, unless a new nomination is made.

If the owner wishes to sell the asset during this period, they must advise us, and we will then inform the relevant community groups.

If something on this register is offered for sale, a Community Group can express an interest in making a bid. That Group will then have up to six months to prepare a bid. However, there is no obligation upon the owner to accept that bid.

For further information on who can nominate assets and on the criteria for an asset to be successfully nominated, please read the guide to Understanding the Community Right to Bid.