London community urged to protect its assets from developers

A group of local MPs want to submit a list of community asset nominations to Haringey Council. It could include buildings and open spaces and would be created to protect the assets from property developers.

"Over the past few years there has been a rush by property developers to buy up buildings that were once considered as community assets - pubs, community centres, doctors surgeries, open spaces, churches, schools and a whole range of other old but much valued buildings and sites," said Paul Strang, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Crouch End. 

The Localism Act gives residents the opportunity to nominate assets of community value that, once agreed on, would give the community a first chance to buy the asset if it was ever put up for sale or for redevelopment. A list of 11 assets that are proposed to be protected as "assets of community value" has been drawn up by local councillors in Crouch End. A website has been launched which allows local residents the opportunity to vote for the proposed assets and suggest additional assets that should be protected. 

“Whilst this group are one of the first to draw up a list, there is a long way to go to secure the funding necessary to acquire any of the assets should they become available. Nevertheless, local landowners and developers will be examining their landholdings closely to ensure that they are ready to respond and object, in the event that any of their assets appear in the list,” said Iain Gilbey, a planning and development expert at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com. 

Councillors are exploring whether they can protect the Royal British Legion building in Hornsey, which has recently been advertised for sale by public auction. "If the legislation had been available earlier, it would have been possible to have it listed and then local groups could have bid for it before it went to auction," said Strang.

The aim is to protect local community buildings, parks and open spaces from future development wherever possible. Councillors plan to submit a final list of community asset nominations to the Council that is "representative of the community" and is as "comprehensible as possible".