The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 significantly overhauls the Assets of Community Value (ACV) regime. It replaces the old "right to bid" with a statutory "right to buy" and extends the sale freeze (moratorium) from six to twelve months. The legislation provides vital new tools to protect valued local spaces, with key reforms including:

• Community Right to Buy: Communities now have the right of first refusal when an ACV comes up for sale, blocking sales on the open market while the community raises funds.
  
  
• Independant valuation: If an agreement on price cannot be reached, an independent valuer determines the open-market value.
  
  
• Broader Scope: The criteria for ACVs have been widened to include assets that further the economic well-being or economic interests of the local community, protecting facilities like village shops and, of course, pubs! Past community use is no longer required to be in the "recent past" to qualify
  
  
• Extended Timelines: The time period a community group has to purchase an asset is extended to up to 12 months, though owners may request a progress review at the six-month mark.

Information based on local authority listings and last updated on 15 August 2026.