COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER

& DEVELOPMENT TRUSTS

Margaret Craig

Kathleen Smyth

@devtrustsni @NICommRights

Development Trusts NI

CAT POLICY FRAMEWORK 2014

• An NI Executive’s Commitment to “invest in social enterprise

growth to increase sustainability in the broad community sector”

• Defines CAT as “a change in management and/or ownership of

land or buildings, from public bodies to communities”

• Spectrum ranges from management agreements to leases to full

ownership

CAT POLICY FRAMEWORK

• CAT produces a range of benefits for the community, public sector and third

sector

• CAT presents opportunities and challenges

• Raise awareness & promote community ownership

• Learn from experience of others & draw on case study examples

BROUGHSHANE

This project was one of Northern Ireland’s first Community Asset Transfers (CAT).

Aim of the project was to acquire Broushane PSNI station that closed in 2013 to develop a community resource.

Two parties were interested in acquiring the asset - valued at £145k.

Rather than engage in direct competition, with the help of DTNI the two parties came together to develop a community housing project for over 55’s and social enterprise space.

BROUGHSHANE

• DTNI engaged the 6 key stakeholders in a partnership process.

• DSD (now Dept for Communities)

• PSNI Estates Management

• Land & Property Services ( LPS)

• NI Housing Executive (NIHE)

• Local Council’s Economic Development Unit

• Triangle Housing Association

• Funding to purchase and develop the asset was secured through a cocktail of funding via loan finance and grants. Total project costs £435,000.

• In Feb 2016 a planning application was submitted for 10 new housing units, 3 social enterprise units and 1 apartment with a delivery timeline of 23 months.

• Building work started on the site in Sept 2016.

• In Dec 2017 the first tenants moved into the new community space.

BROUGHSHANE

Key Learning:

• Partnership - pulling together to realise the vision of both social partners

• Confidence – to take risks to deliver ambitions using loan finance

• Economy – the project delivered by looking beyond government funding to bring new sustainable investment to the village

• Wellbeing – made an impact on social isolation and employment through the business units.

OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL

• Non profit charitable organisation

• Established in Belfast 1999 and moved to Bangor

2013

• Mission: Transforming people and places through

Festivals and Events

• Vision: To contribute to regeneration of the local

economy, create positive social impact, increase

civic pride and develop cultural tourism

OHF & BANGOR COURTHOUSE

• Built 1866 & is a Listed building

• Vacant since 2013 following

decommissioning of NI Courts & Tribunal

Service

• Owned by Department of Justice

• OHF acquiring through CAT process

OHF & BANGOR COURTHOUSE

• Expect to take full ownership April 2020 at nil cost

• Project cost £1.3million

• OHF have secured over £500k

• Awaiting decision from National Lottery Heritage Fund for £854k

• Permanent home for Open House Festival & will provide 4 key services

• Springboard for future capital projects

OHF & BANGOR COURTHOUSE

Open House will develop 4 key services:

• Multi-purpose event, business & performance

space

• Occasional pop-up café

• Offices/meeting rooms

• Rehearsal space for creative groups and

organisations

MARKET TUNNELS PROJECT

1932 Today

MARKET TUNNELS PROJECT

Tunnels from

Market

Community

(South side)

Tunnels from

Lanyon Place

(North side)

MARKET TUNNELS PROJECT

• Planning Permission Granted 2015 (Social Economy Child Day Care, Café &

Community Gym

• £3.6 million funding secured for Project 2015/2016 (Belfast City Council, TEO &

Urban Villages

• Three business cases completed

MARKET TUNNELS PROJECT

September 2016- Belfast City Council approved planning permission

for a 14 storey development (230,000 sq. ft.) in the Market despite

concerns and objections from local residents and community groups

MARKET TUNNELS PROJECT

2017- the Market Community

continued to campaign against

the proposed development

& judicially reviewed the

Council’s decision to approve

The JR was a success, however

the Tunnels is still at risk

KILKEEL VOGUE CINEMA

Kilkeel is the southern-most town in

Northern Ireland & is the main fishing

port on the Down Coast

Kilkeel Development Association

(KDA) were established in 1991 to

address the physical and economic

decline of Kilkeel

KILKEEL VOGUE CINEMA

Kilkeel Development Association (KDA) identified the Kilkeel Vogue Cinema as a potential

community ownership and restoration project

Vogue Cinema was the last single screen cinema to operate in NI

It’s original seating capacity was 490 in stalls & circles

Community Suggestions & Potential Uses:

• Community Cinema

• Civic Centre for Public Events

• Arts Education

• Music & Performance

• Community & Creative Arts

• Exhibition & Festivals

• Media Hub & Recording Studio

• Tourism & Creative Hub

• The CAT of Kilkeel Vogue Cinema presents an opportunity for Kilkeel Development

Association in their plans for physical and economic regeneration

• KDA have researched models for inspiration, explored finance and funding, and have

considered next steps:

➢ Establish charitable organisation

➢ Concept designs & indicative costs

➢ Project development- planning & statutory permissions, project partners,

business case, funding, SLA’s etc.

There are a number of challenges in the Community Asset Transfer process:

• Community support and buy in

• Getting the right stakeholders involved

• Enthusiasm & commitment

• Resources- revenue and capital finance, staffing to progress proposal

• Lack of community rights

CAT in Northern Ireland