Moving the Goalposts: UK Sports Grounds Under New Law

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 received Royal Ascent on 30 April. In addition to the higher profile changes included within the Act, that include banning upwards only rent reviews and stronger Mayoral powers, the Act also makes a series of changes to strengthen the Asset of Community Value (ACV) regime. The biggest change to the ACV regime is the creation of a new category, sporting assets of community value (SACV).

The key points relating to SACVs are:

Local authorities must maintain a list of ACV, which must include a distinct category SACV. Sporting assets are defined as land that, in the authority's opinion, comprises a sports ground within the meaning of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975:

“any place where sports or other competitive activities take place in the open air and where accommodation has been provided for spectators, consisting of artificial structures or of natural structures artificially modified for the purpose.” 

The entry for the land of a sporting assets of community value will remain on the list indefinitely, whereas other assets generally remain for only five years.

Land may be classified as a sporting asset of community value if current, non-ancillary use furthers the social or economic wellbeing or interests of the local community and is realistic to think that such use will continue. The meaning of "social interests" explicitly includes sporting interests.

Unlike normal ACVs, SACVs do not require to be nominated by the community:

• in response to a community nomination, or
• where required by a local authority’s review obligations.
  
  

Within 6 months of the schedule being enacted, local authorities must consider whether there is any land in its area that is land of community value, and a sporting asset of community value. Following the initial review, authorities must then review at regular five-year intervals whether land in their area is or should be included as a sporting asset of community value.

When land is included in this category, the local authority must notify interested parties and explain the consequences, including the right to ask for a review of the decision.

Owners of listed sporting assets (as with other assets of community value) may request a review of the decision to include their property.

As with existing assets of community value, owners must not enter into a relevant disposal of a SACV without engaging with the statutory community right to bid process.

If the asset is a sporting one capable of accommodating over 10,000 people, there are additional provisions for the owner to request review of the community buyer’s progress at 16 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months, with notification of whether progress requirements have been met.

The Secretary of State may issue further guidance to local authorities specifically about the indefinite listing of sporting assets, identification of supporting land, and obligations under the sporting assets provisions.

This has the potential to impact on a significant number of sites across the country.  Due to the requirement placed on local authorities to review their areas within 6 months of the Act being enacted, any and all sports grounds which provide spectator facilities will become identified as a sporting asset of community value.  This has clear implications for a range of scenarios, from the redevelopment of major sports grounds to the sale of smaller, privately owned cricket pitches or bowling greens and could affect a range of meanwhile uses, such as padel clubs which have been installed on development sites across the country.

At present, there is no clear advice from the government on how a sporting asset of community value could be removed from the list. However, the Act does refer to the ability of the government to provide future guidance on this point.

For strategic advice on how this new designation could affect your asset's value and future development potential, contact Keith Jones at JLL.