PART 5Community empowerment

F1Chapter 2AAssets of community value (England)

Community groups: right to buy

86NThe “preferred community buyer”

(1)

The “preferred community buyer” (if any) for the purposes of this Chapter in relation to land of community value is—

(a)

the nominating community group where—

(i)

there is such a group,

(ii)

the notice requirement is met, and

(iii)

at the time the notice requirement is met the group is a community interest group, or

(b)

where there is no group falling within paragraph (a), the alternative community group determined in accordance with section 86P.

(2)

If there is no group falling within subsection (1)(a) or (b) in relation to land of community value, there is no preferred community buyer for the purposes of this Chapter in relation to the land.

(3)

The “notice requirement” is met if the nominating community group gives written notice of its intention to buy the land to the relevant local authority within the notification period.

(4)

In this section—

“community interest group” means a person specified, or of a description specified, in regulations made by the Secretary of State;

“nominating community group” means a voluntary or community body or parish council on the basis of whose community nomination the land was included in a local authority’s list of community assets;

“notification period” is the period of six weeks beginning with the date the nominating community group received the notice given under section 86Q(3).