It’s highly likely that planning permission will be required if you’re looking to make any physical changes to an asset or change its use. Planning permission is granted by the local planning authority and follows a formal process that is separate to the Community Asset Transfer process.
The first step should be to determine if the changes you’re proposing requires planning permission. It’s best to adopt a precautionary approach and assume that you’ll need to apply for permission, even for minor access works, repairs, or improvements. However, you should seek early advice on this from your local authority’s planning department.
Sport England has a guide to help community organisations with making a planning application. The guide provides guidance on the need for, along with step-by-step advice to help with applying and obtaining, planning permission.
If you do need planning permission you should review the planning guidance of the local authority where your asset is located, along with Sport England’s guide. You should discuss any initial ideas with your local authority’s planning department, along with how best to proceed.
Once you have done your research, you may wish to commission an architect and planning consultant who can help bring your ideas to life, by drawing the required plans and advising on whether your project is likely to gain planning permission.
This professional advice can be sought through The Royal Town Planning Institute and The Royal Institute of British Architects; both have sections of their websites which can help you identify relevant organisations to approach for professional advice.
Planning Aid England also provides a free online service regarding all aspects of planning and aims to ensure that everyone has access to the planning system.
It’s also important to consider if listed building consent is required should you want to demolish, alter, or extend a building which is listed as having a special architectural or historic interest.
Ensure you’re aware if you require listed building consent before considering a Community Asset Transfer, as it could affect your future plans and activities. More information can be found on the Historic England website.
If you are planning on making changes to the building immediately after the Community Asset Transfer, try to ensure that these are all agreed as part of the transfer process, so that you don’t need to seek (and possibly pay for) the landlords’ permission at a later date.