Yorkshire and the Humber plans to become national exemplar for asset transfer

21/07/2010

The Development Trusts Association (DTA) will support 120 community organisations throughout Yorkshire and the Humber to transform land and buildings into vibrant community spaces.  In the first region specific initiative of its kind, the DTA’s ‘Supporting Asset Transfer in Yorkshire and the Humber’ project, will offer support to forward thinking local authorities and third sector organisations to develop joint plans for community asset transfer.

The project was launched on the 10 June to an audience of over 70 key third sector organisations, development trusts, local councillors, council officers, regional third sector infrastructure partners and funders.  The event was the first conference to be held at the newly refurbished Hebden Bridge Town Hall venue since it became one of the first town halls in the UK to be owned and managed by the community in April this year.

Community asset transfer refers to the transfer of under-used land and buildings from the public sector to community ownership and management with the aim of delivering long-term social, economic and environmental benefits. There are already a dozen examples of community asset transfer from across the region, including Hebden Bridge Town Hall and Hillside Primary School in Leeds, and with the launch of the DTA’s new project, there will be  many more to come - making Yorkshire and Humber a national exemplar for community asset transfer.

‘Supporting Asset Transfer in Yorkshire and the Humber’ is a specific resource, additional to that of the national Asset Transfer Unit which is managed by the DTA and funded by Communities and Local Government.  The project will offer support to both local authorities and third sector organisations.  This support will be delivered by the DTA and its professional partners; Wrigleys, Arup, Camberwell, and Leeds Metropolitan University.  The type of support on offer includes practical help and signposting, as well as technical support and project-specific expertise.

Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for the area, has awarded £445,000 to the project over the next three years.  The project is expected to achieve at least 12 asset transfers and lever in investment to Yorkshire and the Humber amounting to several times the cost of the project.

Andrew Bibby, Trustee of Hebden Bridge Community Association told the inspirational story of their journey and ended his lively presentation by saying: “Without the support of organisations like the DTA, Hebden Bridge Community Association would have found it very difficult to complete the successful asset transfer of our landmark Town Hall.   Community asset transfer provides communities with renewed civic pride, helps protect the long-term future of public buildings and fosters a spirit of enterprise.  Community asset transfer is never easy, but with expert advice available through the DTA we were able to strategically plan for success.”

At the launch event, Neil Berry, the DTA’s Regional Development Manager for the Yorkshire and the Humber commented: ”Community asset transfer must be a crucial aspect of any localism agenda.  The empowerment of communities which is achieved through local, independent ownership of key public buildings in a neighbourhood has been seen time and again.  Now more than ever we need to unlock local potential – skills, vision, energy, and capacity for future growth – and asset transfer will be a key way to do that”.

For further information or interview and photograph requests contact:
Sophie Michelena, DTA, Tel: 07515576369 / Email: s.michelena@dta.org.uk