Consultation: Community Right to Buy and Community Right to Challenge

The Localism Bill has set out a number of rights, and provided a framework for these rights. To assist in developing the detail of the regulations we are consulting our members on both Rights. To comment, you can join our Campaign for Co-operation discussion group or join us on LinkedIn.

On 4th February 2011 the Department for Communities and Local Government launched the following consultations, which relate to provisions set out in the Localism Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 13 December 2010 and is currently being debated:

Under the Community Right to Buy (assets of community value) community groups will be able to nominate important local amenities and buildings - such as community centres, town halls, or the last village shop or pub - for listing as assets of community value by the local authority. When they come up for sale, communities will have extra time to prepare a bid to take them over, making it easier to keep much-loved assets in public use and part of local life.

Under the Community Right to Challenge voluntary and community groups, parish councils and local authority staff will be able to challenge to take over the running of local authority services where they believe they can do so differently or better.

The Localism Bill sets out the proposed framework of the two Rights. The detailed approach will be established through regulations. To assist in developing the detail of the regulations we are consulting on both Rights. 

We will be submitting a response to the consultations. To comment, you can join our Campaign for Co-operation discussion group or join us on LinkedIn.

The consultation period will run for 12 weeks until 5pm on Tuesday 3 May 2011. 

The consultation documents and response forms can be found on the DCLG website at:

Community Right to Buy 

Community Right to Challenge

Additional ways to get involved

The Department will be holding five consultation events, as follows:

• 9 March in Manchester


• 15 March in London (am only)


• 22 March in Bristol


• 31 March in Birmingham


• 13 April in London 

If you would be interested in attending a consultation event to discuss both or either Right, please email crtchallenge@communities.gsi.gov.uk or crtbuy@communities.gsi.gov.uk or to sign up to the London event on 15th March complete the online form here.

Alternatively write to: