Cambridgeshire community centre for sale as group says ‘don’t sell it for housing’

It has been listed as an Asset of Community Value

A Cambridgeshire town community centre could soon be put up for sale. Fenland District Council has confirmed that the owner of Whittlesey Youth and Community Centre in Scaldgate intends to sell the property.

The community centre has been listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). This means the building’s main use has recently been or is presently used for the local community and could do so in the future.

Due to this, an interim moratorium period has been triggered and will last until July 29, 2026. During this time, community interest groups can bid for ownership of the group centre.

In a statement, Fenland District Council said: “During this period, a community interest group may request in writing (in the format specified by the relevant legislation) to be treated as a potential bidder for the asset.

“Should such an application be received (which complied with the legislative requirements) the full moratorium period specified by the legislation will expire on 28 November, 2026.”

A Community Interest Company, Phoenix Youth Provision said they “don’t want the council to sell it for housing, we want it to return to its original purpose, a youth centre for our young people”.

If no bids or expressions of interest are submitted by the deadline, the ACV will not stop the sale and the owner can look to sell the property on the open market.