‘4,000 public buildings sold a year’

MORE THAN 4,000 public buildings and spaces are being sold off every year by cash-strapped local councils, a charity has said.

Parks, libraries, swimming pools and town halls are among the public assets to have been offloaded, many to private developers for the highest price, according to Locality.

The charity, which champions local communities, says financial pressures are leading to the permanent loss of some of the country’s most valuable assets, and has warned more than 7,000 more sites could be under threat over the next five years.

Chief executive Tony Armstrong said: “This is a sell-off on a massive scale. We know that many of the buildings being lost have valuable community uses.

“Every one of us can think of a local public building or outside space we love and use – from libraries to lidos and town halls to youth centres. They are owned by the public and they’re being sold off for short-term gain to fill holes in council budgets.”

Locality sent Freedom of Information requests to all 353 local authorities in England, and received responses from 240.

A total of 55 councils gave specific figures on the number of sales of publicly owned buildings and spaces between 2012/2013 and 2016/17, with 127 revealing the number identified as surplus in the next five years.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said councils were responsible for the £90.7 billion they have to spend on local services over the next two years, and said authorities should properly consider the risks and opportunities before making commercial decisions.