Tips and templates
Browse our free resources to start unlocking buildings for community-led ideas.
Toolkit for Community Asset Developers
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![How to secure a building: tactics for community assets]()
Top Tips to Secure a Building
You’ve got an amazing idea for an empty building. But you can’t track down the owner or get them to the table. Now what? Read on for tried-and-tested tactics from our network.
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![Heads of Terms and Principles for a Social Impact Agreement]()
Template: Social Value Lease
A template Head of Terms for a social impact agreement (or social value lease), to use with an asset owner.
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![Jargon buster for property and community assets]()
Jargon Buster
Speak the language of asset owners, funders and local authorities. Get to know key definitions of legal, finance and planning terms.
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![Q&A with Dr Jess Steele]()
Interview: Dr Jess Steele
What does it take to do community-led property transformation? Dr Jess Steele shares her insights and advice from the making of Hastings Commons.
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PDF: How to start a Local Property Partnership
Discover the key ingredients of a Local Property Partnership and have a go at starting one in your neighbourhood
See where it’s working
Get inspiration from Hastings, Oxfordshire, Coventry, Liverpool and more.
Meet the communities, councils and asset owners working together to unlock multiple buildings for amazing ideas.
Image: Eagle House, Hastings © Jonny Thompson
From our wider network…
Meanwhile use toolkit (Meanwhile Space)
Setting up a Community Benefit Society by Plunkett Foundation
Resources for community businesses (Power to Change’s directory)
Flowchart: How to fight a planning application (Save Britain’s Heritage)
Empty Shops Network and The Meanwhile Project’s ‘Empty Shops Workbook’
Esmée Fairburn Foundation’s directory of resources (legal, mental health, fundraising, campaigning, digital and safeguarding)
1-minute Q&As
Quick tips from pioneering community leaders, asset owners and councils
Councillor Kemi Akinola (Deputy Leader, Wandsworth Council) on: “How can councillors help their high streets deliver social impact?”
Gareth Jones (Town Square) on: “How can communities garner support for an idea for a high street building?”
Matt Soffair (Legal & General) on: “How can property managers & investors activate their underutilised buildings?”