This list is not definitive and intended as information for the inquisitive not ‘how to’ guidance.

Law

The government enacted a new law in April 2026 (English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026) which allowed communities like ours 12 months to prepare and submit the bid and have first refusal on a pub like ours which has been independently valued at a fair value at the time of sale. Unfortunately, until the civil service add the required level of detail to the law which gives councils powers to manage transitions from old legislation to new and to flesh out the detail, we have to abide by the existing law (Localism Act 2011 and Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012 ) which says communities like ours have only 6 months to prepare and submit a bid at the asking price (no fair valuation is required). The asset remains on the ACV register for 5 years and is a material consideration for any subsequent planning application to change its use, e.g. from a pub to dwellings.

Timetable

The following sets out the timetable prescribed by law and the expectations we must satisfy to prove to investors that the business is viable and provides a means to exit if desired.

Stage	Timescale	Date	Description
Owner decides to sell	Day 0	TBC by SDHC Assume ACV date of 23 July 2026	need start date from Council as this drives all future statutory dates
Interim Moratorium	Weeks 1 – 6	From 23 July 2026 To 3 September 2026	Eligible community groups may register an intention to bid
Full Moratorium	6 months	From 23 July 2026 To 23 January 2027	Bid submitted during this period
Moratorium Ends		24 January 2027	Owner MAY sell to us but not compelled
Protected Period		24 January 2028	For the sale at the price and terms set out by vendor on or before 23 July Community cannot create another ACV nomination – allows seller to sell to anyone

Business Case / Plan

This is a critical piece of information and a substantial amount of work is required to produce to an appropriate level of detail and quality.

Purpose

Demonstrate that the property and operating business represent a viable investment.

Key Sections

• Executive Summary: purchase price, funding sought, use of funds, investor return, exit strategy.
• Why this Pub?: location, demographics, competition, tourism, transport, reasons for previous performance.
• ACV Status: explain benefits, community support, grants, publicity, evidence of local backing.
• Market Analysis: population, income, age profile, competitors, tourism, events.
• Business Model: define the concept and unique selling proposition.
• Revenue Streams: drinks, food, accommodation, events, functions, takeaway, retail, etc.
• Financial Forecasts: 3-year P&L;, cash flow, balance sheet, EBITDA, break-even, sensitivity analysis.
• Property Value: valuation, comparable sales, condition, refurbishment needs, appreciation potential.
• Capital Requirements: detailed use of funds.
• Management Team: experience, advisors, operational capability.
• Risk Analysis: inflation, staffing, energy, licensing and mitigation plans.
• Investor Return: equity or debt terms, dividends, target IRR, exit options.
• Supporting Evidence: valuations, accounts, surveys, plans, demographic and market research.

What Investors Want

A purchase below intrinsic value, capable management, diversified income, conservative forecasts, proven demand, clear growth opportunities and a credible exit strategy.