Liverpool City Council is set to launch a radical new scheme that will make council land available to voluntary groups in order to encourage the regeneration of local areas.
The council’s cabinet today approved the adoption of a Community Asset Transfer policy, which will enable council buildings and land to be leased at less than market rent in return for delivery of social value outcomes.
The policy will allow the council to convert the ‘social value’ of a community group’s business plan into a monetary value that can then be used to offset the cost of using council-owned land and buildings.
The aim is to support third sector groups whose primary purpose in using a council asset is to offer Liverpool residents social, community or environmental benefits. This policy will allow these groups to use the commercial market value of the land or property to support their bids for loans or external funding.
Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: ‘There are so many buildings or pieces of land in Liverpool that are simply being left to rot because the council does not have the finances to resurrect them – while at the same time the city’s third sector is full of ideas on how they can be used to rejuvenate a community.
‘This Community Asset Transfer policy is going to right that wrong. This is going to kick-start a grassroots revolution by giving the power to the people to realise their ambitions, hopes and dreams for a plot of land or a building and unlock its potential.’
Cllr Sarah Doyle, cabinet member for Development and Economy, added: ‘This is the council seeking to deliver on the City Plan commitment to empower communities to tackle problems and shape their own neighbourhoods.
‘There’s scope for some really exciting projects to emerge which could improve delivery of crucial services as well as the places we live.
‘I’m really excited by the potential of this as it could have a huge impact on the quality of life of the most vulnerable people in our communities, as the third sector plays a major role in supporting them.’
