Applicants must show that their organisation is eligible to develop a Community Reserve Site and that their project would be an appropriate development of the plot.
Applications must show:
Community Reserve Sites CANNOT be:
Sites will usually be disposed of on a long lease (125 year in the first instance). This is to protect the site for the benefit of the community in perpetuity. However, in exceptional circumstances, the freehold of a Community Reserve Site will be considered using relevant and testable evidence.
In the case of an enquiry an indicative valuation will be given, as the site will be valued at current residential land values and offered for disposal at not less than one quarter of that value. A site may be reserved for a maximum of 2 years at any one time, on payment of a valuation fee and a deposit of £2,000 per annum. In such cases, the valuation will be held for the period of the reservation. A formal valuation will be given on formal reservation of the site after the application process is completed.
There will be no automatic right to renew a reservation if there has been no progress in the project over the initial 2 years, and an application to renew will be considered by MK Community Properties Ltd, in the light of all prevailing circumstances. In the event of a renewal being agreed, it will be on the basis of a fresh valuation at current residential land values. A further cash deposit will be required and the further reservation period may be for less than 2 years.
In the event of the enquirer not proceeding for any reason, the deposit will be forfeited. In the event of the enquirer proceeding to completion, the deposit paid will be deducted from the agreed financial consideration.
The financial consideration agreed would be paid in a lump sum on agreement of the lease, or in equal instalments over no longer than a 10-year period. The final amount would contain an element to allow for the loss of interest had the financial consideration been paid in a lump sum.
Groups that make a successful application for a site will be required to appoint a solicitor to represent them through the process and advise them on all the legal aspects.
If a group makes a successful application for a site, the development will be monitored to ensure that the build and subsequent service delivery is in line with the objectives of the Community Reserve Site programme. During the build, members of the grants staff will be in touch on a 6-monthly basis to monitor progress of the development and to report to our Property Board.
6 months following the opening of the new facility, the Grants Director and one of our Property Company Directors will undertake a visit to the site to assess issues such as community benefit, service delivery and sustainability, against the original proposals. This information will assist us with the ongoing disposal of the sites and we aim to have an ongoing relationship with groups that have developed sites for ongoing community benefit.
In the first instance please contact the grants team at the Foundation on 01908 690276 or email information@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk. Forms and further information sheets can be downloaded from our Forms and Guidelines page.