Asset of Community Value response.

I've received a response from RBBC, application for ACV for Nutfield Road parade UNSUCCESSFUL.

Reasons given:

1. It is not realistic to think that the current use of the Chinese takeaway is likely to continue for the next five years or that the former uses of the other commercial units can be resumed during that period.

2. It is not therefore necessary to determine whether use as a Chinese takeaway, or the uses to which the other commercial units were formerly put, further the social and cultural wellbeing of the local community.

3. I have had no regard to the arguments put forward by WEL (Woodcote Estates Ltd)  about compensation and appeal, which are not relevant in determining whether a building should be listed as an ACV.

4. I have had no regard to the fact that the Council voted to do “everything it can to retain this takeaway.” Such a resolution does not bind my hands when determining the ACV nomination or oblige me to list the building as an ACV if the grounds for listing as an ACV have not been made out.

Separately,

I enquired whether the Housing dept at the Council could purchase the parade. This was the response:

Unfortunately we don’t have the Executive authority currently to purchase the scale of proposal that you’ve sent across for our residential purchasing programmes, which are more focussed on buying up more traditional ‘street’ properties