They have extended the consultation closing date to 20 March 2021.
The aim of the consultation is to reform the Right to Contest and make it simpler to use as the new ‘Right to Regenerate’.
The government believes this will provide a quicker and easier route for individuals, businesses and organisations to identify, purchase and redevelop underused or empty land in their area. In turn, they feel the strengthened right will support greater regeneration of brownfield land, boost housing supply and empower people to turn blights and empty spaces in their areas into more beautiful developments
Further details of the open consultation can be accessed here. The survey can be completed here.
The National Community Land Trust Network describe themselves as the official charity supporting Community Land Trusts in England and Wales. They have been feeding into discussions ahead of the consultation, including lobbying for a “first right of refusal” for communities which has been included. They welcome the plans so long as they recognise the importance of social value in the price of land and the benefits of disposal.
They describe the proposals as including the opportunity to make it easier for the public to transform vacant land and derelict buildings into homes or community spaces. You can read about their views on the proposals here.
In our recent blog – New Year resolutions for the local VCSE sector – we talked about the government’s new Social Value Model. The blog can be accessed here: https://valonline.org.uk/blog/new-year-resolutions-for-the-local-vcse-sector/
Local VCSE organisations interested in how community spaces are made available and utilised may want to consider reading about the plans and completing the survey.