Rural assets: policy and practice insights from the devolved nations

The Rural Assets project aimed to understand how community asset acquisition impacts the empowerment, resilience, and wellbeing of rural communities across the four nations of the UK.   

Why is this important? 

The transfer of public assets into community ownership is promoted at a policy and public authority level as potentially benefiting communities, including by addressing some of the long-standing challenges faced in rural communities, such as isolation and out-migration of young people. However, there is divergence in policy application and local level practice across the nations. 

What did it involve?  

Following extensive legal, policy and literature reviews, the research team conducted one case study per UK nation, involving in-depth interviews with rural community members, public authority representatives, and other key stakeholders. Workshops were also held to co-create meaningful outcomes with community members, and Knowledge Exchange events informed the research and created opportunities for shared learning between communities, policymakers, and practitioners.  

Key findings:  

• A lack of capacity, skills, and knowledge within rural communities, due to smaller populations and limited volunteer pools, was a key barrier to engaging in asset acquisition. 

• Public authority processes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were found to be unclear, inconsistent, complex, and overly bureaucratic. While processes in Scotland were more standardised, inconsistencies were still found in interpretation and application. 

• In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, effective legislative mechanisms and policy guidance are lacking. In Scotland, legislation has been effective but is still complex and resource intensive. 

• There is a lack of strategic capital funding in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to support rural communities to purchase, renovate, and maintain assets.  

• Across the UK, third sector support organisations were seen as invaluable in supporting rural communities to successfully navigate asset acquisition processes.  

Policy recommendations: 

• Rural communities require specific policy support for asset acquisition, which takes account of the rural context and facilitates access to funding as well as building their capacity to successfully engage with government procedures.   

• Standardised, streamlined, and consistent asset acquisition processes should be implemented across all local governments in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with appropriate training and support for staff.  

• Additional or improved legislative mechanisms are required in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There is a clear demand for more community rights, most notably a right of first refusal and a right to buy. 

• In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, rural communities would be supported by the introduction of strategic capital funding specific to community asset acquisition, much like the Scottish Land Fund. 

• The introduction of standardised measurement tools for social value would enable communities and public authorities to quantify community benefit and reflect this in the price of assets.