The Hawthorns now an Asset of Community Value as Sandwell Council pull through for West Brom
West Brom fans can finally celebrate a win off the pitch with The Hawthorns now considered as an Asset of Community Value.
Sandwell Council confirmed on their website on Thursday morning (19 January) that the Shareholders for Albion nomination from November has proven successful.
The Hawthorns, the stadium car park, the area where the Woodman pub once stood, the away-fan access to Middlemore Road and the community sports hall used by the Albion Foundation have all been listed as ACVs.
Sandwell Council adds: “Becoming an ACV means that if an owner of a listed asset wants to sell the asset or grant a lease for 25 years or more, a six-month moratorium period will normally be triggered during which the asset cannot be sold or let. This period gives community groups time to develop a proposal and raise the required capital to bid for the property when it comes onto the open market at the end of the moratorium period. The status of the Stadium as an ACV also has a significance in the planning process.
“A landowner can trigger a review about the inclusion of the assets from the list and there is also a process for an appeal to an independent body should the owner decide to do so.”
Huge blow for Lai
If Guochuan Lai wanted to or needed to sell The Hawthorns for any reason, it’ll be a lot harder for him now.
Interestingly, this move by Sandwell Council comes just weeks after Albion confirmed they had agreed a £20million loan with MSD Holdings, which is secured against those assets now listed as ACVs.
It remains to be seen how this will affect things going forward but The Hawthorns is now seemingly less at risk as it once was from Albion’ untrustworthy ownership.
Shareholders For Albion have done a great job here, as has councillor Les Trumpeter, who has regularly pushed for Sandwell Council to grant an ACV for The Hawthorns.
He said on Twitter on Thursday that the council had only shown urgency very recently: “The matter has finally been taken seriously and progress has quickly been made this week.”
It seems controlling shareholder Lai can still appeal against the decision but either way, this is a spanner in the works for him and his Chinese business associates.
In other West Brom news, Albion are trying to sign this Brighton player on loan.