Grosvenor & Riverside House listed as Asset of Community Value

It comes following a meeting of the Economic Development and Planning department at Wiltshire Council. 

The decision says: "Having considered all the information and submissions provided, Wiltshire Council has decided to enter the property onto the list of Assets of Community Value."

It adds that it is noted that the property is currently unused, but that its last use as a youth and community centre in 2017, a use that is "believed to have enhanced the culture of Salisbury through music where musicians would come together". 

Grosvenor and Riverside House. Picture by Spencer Mulholland.

'There is a benefit for Salisbury'

The decision letter from Wiltshire Council adds: "There is a benefit for Salisbury as a whole in having a centralised location for local knowledge and support, in a hosted building dedicated to supporting, networking and showcasing the community and opportunities for synergy with existing social enterprises that provide support in forms of counselling, interpersonal skills, debt redemption, food sustainability and personal growth.

"This site suits this proposal specifically due to its historical value to the community of the Salisbury area; proximity to the train station, river Nadder, meadows and size that uniquely allow it to enable the above proposed entities and support existing social enterprises".

It adds that the application has "much local support with approximately 240 signatures on a petition to support the listing".

It goes on to say that: "It is therefore considered that the use of the building or other land in the recent past, that is not an ancillary use, furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and it is realistic to think that now or in the next 5 years there could continue to be non-ancillary use of the building or other land which will further (whether or not in the same way as before) the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community".

The decision also states that there are testimonies to the benefit this gave to individuals and the community as a whole, from supporting mental health and wellbeing to growing the local economy through the arts. 

What does this mean?

This ACV status does not mean that the group will get Grosvenor House as an asset transfer for free - the value is too high for that. They will now need to raise the funding to purchase it.

The owner of the property also does not have to sell the asset to the community interest group.

There is also a "protected period" (18 months from the time that the owner notified the local authority of their intention to dispose of the asset) – during this time there can be no further moratoriums on sale and the owner is free to dispose of the property as they see fit.

An entry has been made on the Land Register and the owner of the asset cannot dispose of it without:

• Letting the local authority know that they intend to sell the asset or grant a lease of more than 25 years;
• Waiting until the end of a six week ‘interim moratorium’ period if the local authority does not receive a request from a community interest group to be treated as a potential bidder;
• Waiting until the end of a six month ‘full moratorium’ period if the local authority does receive a request from a community interest group to be treated as a potential bidder (in the first six weeks).

Landowners have the opportunity to request a review of the decision to enter an asset on the Assets of Community Value register, within eight weeks of listing

Architect's impression of the front elevation. Picture from Hackett Holland

'Great news'

Pete Rushforth, 32, and Ben Whatsley, 42, who launched the petition to register Grosvenor House as an ACV,  have set up a CIC called Rise, Resound, Rebuild (R3), and want to turn the former youth centre into a "cultural hub that reinvests profits back into the city".

Pete said: "It's great news, I'm very excited. 

"It's not the end of the road but the beginning of a longer one, one of which I hope the people in Salisbury will continue to be a part". 

Proposed garden plan

For more information on their plans, click here. 

To visit R3's website, go to riseandbuild.co.uk. 

More to follow. 

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