The County Ground Protected as Asset of Community Value
Successful extension of protection as Asset of Community Value
Fowler Architecture & Planning have succeeded in extending the status of The County Ground in Swindon as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
We were instructed by the Swindon Town Supporters Trust (TrustSTFC) to extend the protection on this valuable ground, as the home of Swindon Town Football Club.
The County Ground was originally listed as an ACV in January 2014. This latest application means that the ground is protected for a further five years until 2024.
What is an Asset of Community Value?
From My Community:
“Assets of Community Value (ACV) form a part of the Community Right to Bid. It acts as the first stage in identifying and nominating buildings or other assets such as land that have a main use or purpose of furthering the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community, and could do so into the future.
Once listed as Assets of Community Value with the local authority, the local community will be informed if they are listed for sale within the five year listing period. The community can then enact the Community Right to Bid, which gives them a moratorium period of six months to determine if they can raise the finance to purchase the asset.”
For more information on Assets of Community Value, see My Community.
Protection for The County Ground
Our lead on this project, Chartered Town Planner Aaron Smith, says:
“The ACV status ensures the Community Right to Bid can be used by TrustSTFC. If this asset ever comes up for sale, the Trust can work with the community and can have up to six months to raise the funds to bid for it to safeguard its future.”
For more information, including a list of Community Assets, see Swindon Borough Council’s Community Right to Bid information.
