Much-loved community buildings which locals have fought to save from being turned into flats in Bristol could be protected, under new plans announced by the Labour Party. The opposition has unveiled plans to give communities the right to buy buildings such as pubs, libraries and football stadiums without competition when they go up for sale, as long as they are listed as assets of community value.
Although the Labour Party is not in power, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership election will give Britain a new Prime Minister by September - and this has prompted speculation there could be a general election soon, with Labour currently leading in the polls. And in Bristol, Labour's proposals could have huge implications for locals who have been fighting back against plans from developers to turn much-loved community buildings into flats.
Buildings such as The Rhubarb Tavern pub in Barton Hill and the Redfield Cinema have been the subject of battles with developers. But because the buildings are listed as assets of community value, the Labour policies would give communities the right to buy them, while under the current laws they only have the right to bid for them.
Read more: All the pubs Barton Hill has lost over the years as campaigners battle to save the last one
Alexander Smith, who has helped lead the campaign to save the Rhubarb Tavern, welcomed the idea. "What I would say is any change of policy or policies that would help communities to purchase assets that they wish to keep within the community and to run for the benefits of everyone who lives and works there, would certainly be most welcome," he said.
"I know for community pub campaign groups it can take quite a long time, years even, to establish their group and to raise the required funds to negotiate with the owner of an asset, whether they be private, or a much larger business, to ensure the asset is retained with the community's best interests in mind. So again, any help that can be given to any community wishing to do, or is at present doing so, would be most welcome."
Labour's plans were announced by the shadow secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Lisa Nandy, at a speech in Darlington on Monday, July 18. In her speech, Nandy said that the plans would give communities first refusal on assets of community value, and "long-term" vacant high street property.
It would also give them the right to force the sale of a land or buildings in a state of "significant disrepair". Communities would also have 12 months to raise the money to buy a building, rather than the current six month period.
Nandy also said that the only conditions are that the building must "raise revenue to be passed on to future generations, and it must be driven by the wishes of the community and used for the common good". And she added: "We've already pledged that we're going to help 100,000 new businesses to start up across the country, and this investment in communities will help us to do exactly that.
"To provide our communities with an asset base which in turn helps to establish strong, sustainable community businesses. This is the first step but it is an important step because it's the first step on a road towards financial autonomy for our towns, our villages and our cities."
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