The Localism Bill, which has been making its way through Parliament since December last year, received Royal Assent this week, to become the Localism Act.

The Act has been described by Locality, the organisation charged with delivering the government’s £15m Community Organisers programme, as “a real opportunity for local people and groups to shape and influence their communities”.

The Act enshrines in law the ‘Right to Challenge’ existing service delivery providers and the ‘Right to Buy’ community assets. The legislation will require local authorities to list “assets of community value”.  If these assets are up for sale, local authorities will also need to provide a moratorium period of six months, during which time, provided that a local group expresses interest, the asset cannot be sold – giving local groups the opportunity to put together a bid to take over the asset for community benefit.

Steve Wyler, Locality’s CEO, said this was the culmination of a six-year campaign led by the DTA and now Locality, “in the face of fierce opposition and indeed scaremongering by vested interest landowners”. 

“While this version of a ‘community right to bid’ does not force a sale or give a right of first refusal, nevertheless it does provide a window for local groups to prepare bids for the land and buildings of most value to their community, and that has to be good for communities everywhere.”