Community Right to Build is a means by which like-minded people from the local area come together with a shared vision of what they want to achieve in their community and how they can go about it.  The Community Right to Build will mean that community organisations would be able to take forward new local developments without the need to go through the normal planning application process, as long as the proposals meet certain criteria and there is community backing in a local referendum.

Community Right to Build will be able to be used throughout England, in both rural and urban areas at the neighbourhood level.

Only people who live or work in the community will be able to use the Community Right to Build.

The type of development will be for the community to decide. Communities might wish to build housing, commercial accommodation, a community hall, a sports facility, or a new playground for children.

There are a broad range of financial resources available to community groups; these include grants, donations and loans.

This will depend upon the nature and scale of the development.

The community will need to negotiate with the landowner and reach an agreement.

Communities will have to find available sites that are most suitable for their needs.

The Community Right to Build will give communities the right to deliver the homes and development that they really want, it doesn’t have to be in line with all elements of a local plan. By holding a referendum, local communities will have a direct say on the buildings they want built in their local area. Developing a Community Right to Build proposal may also be a good way of mobilising local people to get involved.

The local authority will carry out the referendum on behalf of the community organisation.