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Southfield site awarded Asset of Community Value status
04/09/2024
The move by Brackley Town Council gives the local community rights if the site comes up for sale
The site of the former Southfield Primary School in Brackley has successfully been registered as an Asset of Community Value.
The move, by Brackley Town Council, looks likely to have influenced the decision by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to investigate bringing the site back into community use.
Local people had feared that if the school closed WNC would sell the land for development.
Having exhausted all opportunities to challenge the closure, Brackley Town Council agreed to nominate the site to be registered as an Asset of Community Value under Section 89 of the Localism Act 2011.
This allows communities to preserve buildings or land which are of importance to their area’s social well-being. If and when the asset comes up for sale there is a delay in the sale process, giving an increased chance for the local community to bid to buy the asset. This is known as the ‘community right to bid’.
The town council nominated the site late in June and were told their application had been successful on August 20.
In making their decision WNC said: “The Property provides services for local sports groups including an after-school football club, together with a Youth Club and Brackley Sea Cadets. Consequently, this current use furthers the social wellbeing and the interests of the local community.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam