Sadie Pitman writes in Local Government Lawyer on assets of community value and changes for sporting grounds

Potential reforms to the UK's planning system have drawn much attention, including proposed updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. Less scrutiny, however, has been given to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, currently at Report Stage in the House of Lords. While debate has focused on devolution, Schedule 29 introduces changes to the treatment of assets of community value (ACVs) in England.

The Bill widens the definition of ACVs to include assets that further the economic wellbeing and interests of the local community, in addition to social factors. It also introduces sports grounds as a distinct category of ACV, with the aim of increasing protection for facilities that have historically been under‑represented within the regime.

Authorities should therefore be alive to the changes in the Bill and keep an eye out for any regulations that may follow. Once in force, the changes are expected to place additional administrative and financial costs of compliance on local authorities; who will for instance need to review sports grounds in their area, support community engagement and negotiation processes, and commission valuations where required.

Sadie Pitman, Associate in our Planning, Infrastructure & Environment team, writes in Local Government Lawyer:

The Bill therefore greatly shifts the ACV regime in favor of community groups, in an effort to keep community assets in community ownership. The Bill is not yet in force, but it is a clear sign from the Government that it intends for more local facilities to remain locally owned. However, the extent to which the changes move the dial, given that a community group still needs to be able to fund any purchase, remains to be seen.

Read the full article in Local Government Lawyer here.