Community ownership of rural assets

While earlier chapters explored the potential of public engagement, this chapter explores the role of ‘communities’ in not only participating in policymaking, but in playing a more direct role in rural governance through the ownership of community assets. Community ownership of assets represents an emerging local response to economic and social change in rural areas, including the loss of local amenities and, particularly in England, the lack of affordable housing. This chapter examines the role of community land trusts in rural areas, tracing their development, application, and governance to understand the potential of community asset ownership as a governance model that can effectively respond to the local concerns and changes of rural communities.