Councils in England selling 4,000+ buildings and open spaces a year on average

The Local Government Association has defended decisions by councils in England to dispose of publicly owned buildings and spaces, after research suggested that some 4,131 such properties are being sold off on average each year.

The extent of the sales was revealed following freedom of information requests submitted in January this year by Locality, the national membership charity of community organisations.

In its report, The Great British Sell-Off, Locality said that fewer than half (41%) of councils had a strategy (a Community Asset Transfer policy) in place for community ownership, yet 95% of local authorities surveyed expect the sell off of publicly owned buildings and spaces to play an increasingly important role in the next five years.

Locality, which is launching a Save our Spaces campaign, said: “These buildings and spaces have potential to provide vital services and support to local people, but they are being lost to the community forever, through private sale to the highest bidder.

“Community ownership is a solution that puts these buildings and spaces back at the heart of the community and protects them for local people for generations to come. Community owned spaces are where people can come together, meet their neighbours and access vital support and services.”

Locality said it wanted to see community ownership prioritised, with a range of measures, including a Community Ownership Fund of £200m a year for five years.

Responding to Locality’s report, Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Resources Board, said: “Councils take their responsibilities to maintain public buildings and the public spaces in their care extremely seriously. However, with local government facing an overall funding gap in excess of £5bn a year by 2020, councils face difficult decisions about how best to use their resources to support local services, day-to-day activities and to protect public assets, such as buildings.”

Cllr Watts added: “Before a decision is made to sell an asset, the cost of selling it versus the benefit it could bring is considered carefully.

“Local councillors, elected by local people, understand the deep connection communities have with their public spaces and buildings. If we are to be able to maintain them and fund front-line services, the Government must address our funding shortfall of over £5bn a year by 2020 as soon as possible. It is essential that the funding for local government, which has faced cuts of 40% over the last eight years, is put on a sustainable footing, so we can support our communities through essential services and vital infrastructure.”