Building, Assets, and Services Grants – In support of the Community Rights

1. Building, Assets, and Services Grants – In support of the Community Rights

2. Key • Community Rights • Funding • Support • Case studies

3. The Community Rights BUILD BID CHALLENGE

4. Community Right to Build BUILD small scale, site-specific developments without planning permission

5. BUILD Welcome to NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING Please drive carefully

6. Community Right to Build • a specific kind of neighbourhood development order Like Neighbourhood Development Plans – • neighbourhood area needs to approved by the Local Planning Authority • CRtB Order must be in ‘general conformity’ with the NPPF and local plan • independently assessed • subject to a local referendum

7. Community Right to Build • allows specific proposals to be developed without planning permission • may be used as part of a neighbourhood plan or separately • expected to be mainly used for small scale housing in rural areas • but can be used for shops, businesses, community facilities, playgrounds, small scale power generation, etc

8. Who can submit a CRtBuild Order? • parish council or existing neighbourhood forum • local charities • incorporated community organisations - ‘established for… furthering the social. economic & environmental well-being of individuals living, or wanting to live, in a particular area’

9. Opportunities • revenue generated stays with the community • take advantage of CIL and New Homes Bonus • encourages community spirit and ownership • encourages partnerships with developers

10. Challenges • small scale – 5 to 20 houses • community must acquire the land and capital to develop • may be easier to just get planning permission in most cases

11. Funding for Building Grant Programme • available from Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) • £17½ million over 3 years (2012-15) • help towards the cost of preparing a CRtBuild Order, local consultation and developing the scheme • not intended for building, land or development costs • For info on how to apply visit http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/community-right-to-build

12. Funding – Building Grant Application process

13. Right to Build case studies • Hulcote and Salford Parish Council • Hulcote and Salford Parish Council are in the process of mounting a Community Right to Build order. This is in response to the fact local people cannot afford the high prices in the village. Housing needs require a review backed by local resident support. • The Parish Council are looking to build 4 affordable 2 bed houses and have identified suitable land for this. The land is secured and gifted by a local landowner. A brown field site, it is currently occupied by dilapidated chicken sheds. Grand Union housing association are agreeable to constructing and managing development, however Central Bedfordshire Council say the site is not designated for such use in the local plan. • The Parish Council are now setting up a local group of people and are applying for funding from the HCA. • For more case studies visit mycommunityrights.org.uk/case-studies

14. Right to Build case studies • Brixton Green • Brixton Green was set up in 2007 by local people in Brixton, South London and registered as an industrial society in 2009. Brixton Green is interested in using the Community Right to Build and is involving the community in the development of a large neglected site along Somerleyton Road.  • Creative hub – bringing together three established Brixton arts organisations with additional space for community groups and smaller creative businesses. • Community hub – use community activity near the unwelcoming alley under the railway to help resolve the permeability issues at this end of the site. • Sustainably built street facing homes – including family units on the ground floor, front gardens and communal rear gardens. • For more case studies visit mycommunityrights.org.uk/case-studies

15. Community Right to Build BUILD any questions?

16. Community Right to Bid BUY

17. Right to Buy? Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 • stimulated a series of community land buy-outs • more than half the Western Isles now in community ownership

18. Community Right to Bid BUY BUY delay the sale and bid to buy assets of community value

19. Right to Bid (Assets of Community Value) “aims to ensure that buildings and amenities can be kept in public use and remain an integral part of community life”

20. Assets of Community Value

21. List of assets of community value The Pub? The Post Office? The Village Hall? The Corner Shop? The School? The Allotments? Your House?

22. Assembling an assets list • LAs to list assets of ‘community value’ • Public, private, and VCS owned • Nominated by Parish Council, community council, or a locally connected voluntary or community body • LA must inform owner and nominee • Right of appeal for landowner • 5 year listing The Pub? The Post Office? The Village Hall? The Corner Shop? The School? The Allotments?

23. What is Community Value? Must further the social well-being or cultural, recreational or sporting interests of the local community This must be its principal use Must continue to further the social well-being or interests of the local community   

24. Moratorium Period • Triggered when owner wants to sell • During which the owner cannot conclude sale • 6 weeks for community group to notify LA they wish to bid • 6 months to raise capital to purchase • Followed by a protected period – 18 months: to protect owner from repeated attempts to block sale

25. Exemptions • If disposal is a gift • Disposal between members of family • If part of bigger estate • If a going concern business is operating (providing that sale will result in the business continuing) 

26. The Opportunity • A legal mechanism to encourage community ownership of assets • Owners viewing assets in a completely different way – as valuable community resources – and recognising they have a responsibility to ensure their preservation

27. Challenges • Does it discourage less than market transfer? • Treatment of BME and Community of Identity? • More liabilities than assets? • 6 months (development time is usually 2-3 years) • ‘Right to’ may create conflict in communities • The owner doesn’t have to sell to that group • Maintaining ‘principal use’

28. Funding – Asset Grant Programme • Over £16m available to community groups looking to buy buildings and assets • Available from the Social Investment Business • Pre-feasibility grants of £5k to £10k • Feasibility grants of £10k to £100k • can apply for 50% or 30% of contract costs (depends if under or over £30k) • intended for capacity building, training, expertise, business planning, market research… • not intended for equipment, building costs or running costs

29. Funding – Application process • Interested organisations are advised to contact the Community Rights Advice Service at www.mycommunityrights.org.uk or call 0845 345 4564 to assess their suitability for the Grant Programmes.   • Once approved, you can download an application from the Social Investment Business website… www.sibgroup.org.uk/communityrights/apply

30. Funding – Application process

31. Right to Bid case studies • Headingley Development Trust • Headingley Development Trust was established in 2005 by a group of local residents concerned about the rapidly changing nature of the area. Around 2005, Headingley Primary School was to become redundant, with the likelihood of it being converted to flats. The Trust was determined to find an alternative future for the school. • The Trust set about developing a range of other initiatives including: whole food shop acquired through a community share issue farmers’ market pig and fowl co-operative. • The school, built in 1882, was in need of repair and remodelling in order to convert it to community use. The total cost of refurbishment was around £1.3m, financed through a community share issue plus loans and grant funding. • For more case studies visit mycommunityrights.org.uk/case-studies

32. Right to Bid case studies • The Fox & Hounds Inn, Ennerdale, Cumbria • The Fox & Hounds Inn is a community-run pub in Ennerdale Bridge in the Lake District. When the community heard the pub was closing, they decided to take on the lease and running of the pub. • They had to persuade the owner they could raise £67,000 in 2 weeks. Local people pledged to buy shares for a proposed not-for-profit Industrial and Provident Society. The owner then agreed to a 15-year lease – plus the right of first refusal of the freehold if it comes up for sale. • Volunteers transformed the half-derelict pub in just 4 weeks – in time for the tourist season. It opened in April 2011 and has taken £297,000 in its first year – more than expected. • For more case studies visit mycommunityrights.org.uk/case-studies

33. Community Right to Bid BID any questions?

34. Community Right to Challenge CHALLENGE challenge and take over a council service they think can be better run

35. When can we submit an EOI? • At anytime. Unless… • The LA specifies periods for submitting EOI (inc beginning and end dates)

36. Who can submit an Expression of Interest? • charities • voluntary organisations • parish councils • 2 or more employees of the Local Authority involved in that service

37. Then what? • LA must respond in writing • If accepted a commissioning and procurement process is triggered • If not - gives reasons for rejection • Rejection of EOI only on grounds set out in regulations

38. Challenges • But what is the market? - Local Authority budgets cut • Smaller contracts - Be careful what you wish for! • Opening the door for others • Potential for creating conflict with LA • LAs dealing with what seems like contradictory policy (Localism vs Gershon)

39. Opportunities • Encourages ‘local thinking’ • Co-design of services • Breaking down contract size • A catalyst for voluntary & community sector collaboration

40. Funding – Community Services Grant Programme • Available from Social Investment Business • Pre-feasibility grants of £5k to £10k • Feasibility grants of £10k to £100k • can apply for 50% or 30% of contract costs (depends if under or over £30k) • intended for consortia building, training, expertise, business planning, market research… • not intended for equipment, building costs or running costs

41. Funding – Applying • Interested organisations are advised to contact the Community Rights Advice Service at www.mycommunityrights.org.uk or call 0845 345 4564 to assess their suitability for the Grant Programmes.   • Once approved, you can download an application form here… www.sibgroup.org.uk/communityrights/apply

42. Funding – Application process

43. Right to Challenge case studies • Ventnor Town Council • Ventnor Town Council is exploring the potential to take over responsibility for car parks from the Isle of Wight Council and plan to use the Community Right to Challenge. • Parking has been a long-term problem in the densely-packed Victorian town of Ventnor and is faced by residents and businesses. In a town reliant on visitors to the centre to stimulate its economy, residents, shoppers and workers who commute to the town are all fighting for parking spaces. • Ventnor Town Council have received a grant through the My Community Rights support service of £9k and have commissioned parking expert, Parkspace Consulting, to analyse the problems Ventnor face and make recommendations for a Ventnor-based car parking service. • For more case studies visit mycommunityrights.org.uk/case-studies

44. Right to Challenge case studies • Little Red Bus • Little Red Bus, a well-established community transport organisation in Harrogate would like to use the Right to Challenge to also offer adult social services transport in the area. • The Little Red Bus network aims to remove the barriers to services presented by non-car ownership, reducing social exclusion arising from rural isolation and limited mobility. • They work towards improving pollution, congestion and parking problems, and providing reliable, high quality, sustainable transport solutions. • They are applying for grant funding through the My Community Rights advice service to do feasibility work to support a challenge and expression of interest to run these services. • For more case studies visit mycommunityrights.org.uk/case-studies

45. Community Right to Challenge CHALLENGE any questions?

46. Where to now? HELP

47. Where to go first? • Locality advice service - 0845 345 4564, Mon-Fri 9.30am – 12.30pm. • Or http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/

48. If approved, where next? • Asset and Services grants - Once approved, you can download application guidance from the Social Investment Business website… www.sibgroup.org.uk/communityrights/apply or call 0191 261 5200 or e-mail enquiries@sibgroup.org.uk • Building grants - Once approved, you can download application guidance from the Housing and Communities Agency website… http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/community-right-to-buildor e-mail crtb@hca.gsi.gov.uk