Latest news with #LandReform(Scotland)Bill
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
MSPs consider plans to stop landowners 'blocking' community buy-outs
The Scottish Greens tabled the amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill which would give communities greater powers to take back local land from 'absentee' landowners. Currently, communities are restricted from progressing with community buy-outs of neglected land if the landowner brings a small part of the area 'into use'. READ MORE: Plans submitted for 102-bedroom Premier Inn in Scottish city centre Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell brought forward the amendments which would mean landlords would have to bring at least 50% of a landholding into use, otherwise it would be classed as abandoned or neglected and would be eligible for community buy-out. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was tabled by the SNP Government and passed its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament at the stage 1 debate in March. Part of the legislation aims to increase opportunities for community buy-outs of land, and also when large estates are put on the market, ministers could break up this land – in a process known as lotting – into smaller areas, if certain conditions are met. However, ministers have already been told by Holyrood's Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee that 'significant change' is needed to the bill if it is to deliver on the Scottish Government's 'ambitious policy objectives'. Ruskell's proposals are set to be debated and voted on at the same committee on Tuesday. Mark Ruskell Commenting, Ruskell said: 'For too long, people have been unfairly barred from bringing local land back into community ownership because of a tiny loophole in the law. 'It cannot be right that neglectful landowners are able to leave land ignored and derelict for many years, whilst communities are desperate to bring areas back into productive use. READ MORE: 'Evacuate Tehran': Donald Trump issues warning as he departs G7 leaders summit early 'The Land Reform Bill should be an opportunity to tackle this kind of inherent unfairness in Scotland's land ownership – and that's exactly why I've brought these proposals forward.' Ruskell added that he has been supporting locals in Largo, Fife, where he said that plans for the community buy-out of local land have been blocked by the landowner converting less than 10% of the holding into a horticulture business. He said that the rest of the site – which includes historic buildings and gardens – have been left 'abandoned and neglected'. Ruskell added: 'For folks in Largo, this ridiculous saga has gone on for too long – it's time to close the Largo loophole for good.'
The National
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scotland's future is something that is worth talking about
It's our second such gathering, following our Spring Convention in Edinburgh in March, and we're making good on our promise to move around the country. This time, we're visiting the fair city of Perth, and we look forward to welcoming 90 or so participants to the Salutation Hotel for a day of fascinating presentations and discussions. The main purpose of the convention is to address issues affecting Scotland's future. We're not directly discussing independence and how we get there, but as we deal with questions about various key subjects, we tend to find that in every case at least part of the answer is independence. READ MORE: SNP must turn support for independence into 'real political action', says Swinney The opening session of Saturday's event will be about identity and cultural issues: 'Wha's like us? A look at Scottishness, Scotland and independence.' Why? Well, culture, language and history are pivotal facets of nationhood. When a nation is absorbed into another, or into an empire, there is a very real danger that these crucial facets are diluted or lost. Thus a vital part of regaining independent nationhood is a rediscovery of our culture, language and history – yet, at least until recently, this has not figured greatly in Scotland's campaign for independence. The session will be led by Stuart McHardy – the writer and historian who has demonstrated how our history has been distorted and suppressed over the years – and Roger Emmerson, a distinguished architect whose latest book, Scotland In 100 Buildings, was published last month. Stuart and Roger will outline how culture leads politics, not the other way round, and lead participants in an examination of Scottish distinctiveness and why it matters. With Stuart's penchant for storytelling, we expect a lively conversation which will inform and, we expect, inspire everyone in the room. Our discussions from the Spring Convention are still ongoing, of course, so the remainder of the morning will be devoted to catching up on the topics we covered in Edinburgh. It's been great to witness the progress our colleagues at Energy Scotland have been making since their splendid contribution to the Spring Convention. They've featured in the pages of The National several times; developed a strong website, published papers on various key energy topics; made a splash at last month's Scottish Sovereignty Research Group conference, and featured on a special Lesley Riddoch podcast. John Proctor, the chair, will update us further on their activities and put a number of policy propositions to the convention. The need for land reform, as a means of unlocking the potential of our nation and its population, continues to be a major issue in Scottish politics. It's been frustrating to see all manner of good intentions over the past 18 years failing to shift the dial. At present, our hopes are vested in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is at stage two of its consideration by the Scottish Parliament. John Hutchison will report on its progress and the work of Community Land Scotland, which held its annual conference at the end of last month. The third strand of the Spring Convention we'll revisit is democracy and governance. Here, while our aspirations are for the restoration of Scotland's independence, we don't want that to result in a replica of the limited democracy that the UK provides. Geoff Bush will review the multitude of views expressed by participants in Edinburgh, and the discussion will continue from there. READ MORE: SNP candidate calls out Tory rival for being in 'lockstep with failed ideology' At lunchtime, we're delighted to be able to present a feature common to many gatherings – a fringe event! For those who are interested (quite a few, we suspect) David Younger of Scotland Decides will give a presentation about his organisation's independent blockchain voting platform, technology-enabled Direct Democracy which offers a way forward backed by international law and free of UK interference. He'll also outline how this fits with this own vision of how a National Convention might be organised – and what it could achieve. In the afternoon we'll be concentrating exclusively on the massive issue of poverty and the wellbeing economy. We've got a host of speakers and panellists lined up, including William Thomson of Scotonomics; Craig Dalzell of Common Weal; lawyer and activist Eva Comrie; Jim Osborne of the Scottish Currency Group, and Annie Miller of Basic Income Network Scotland. Not yet signed up for the Summer Convention? There are still one or two places available, and we'd be delighted if you could join us. It's free to attend, but booking is essential, and you can do so via We'll also be happy to answer any questions you may have – just email us at convention@ Looking forward to seeing you in Perth!
The Herald Scotland
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Land reform Bill: Labour MSP in bid to introduce 500ha cap
The MSP is to lodge amendments that would introduce a presumptive cap on land ownership. Her proposal would prevent any individual or entity from buying, selling or owning more than 500 hectares by default. READ MORE: MSPs backed the general principles of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill in March. Holyrood's Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is set to begin Stage 2 scrutiny on Tuesday, considering hundreds of proposed amendments. The Bill has two parts. The first would place a duty on the owners of the largest landholdings to engage with the local community about the use of the land. It also proposes mechanisms to make it easier for community groups to purchase land when it is put up for sale. The second part addresses the agricultural and environmental use of leased farmland. Ms Villalba's amendment would mean any transaction exceeding the 500 hectare threshold would trigger a forward-looking public interest test, assessing whether the sale benefits local communities and Scotland more broadly. Where estates fail the test, ministers could require them to be divided and sold in smaller parcels—a measure aimed at curbing further concentration. She also plans to amend the Bill's definition of 'large-scale' landholding to account for total land owned, rather than just contiguous holdings. This is intended to prevent landowners from avoiding regulation by holding multiple, smaller, separate parcels. A further amendment would stop ministers from raising the acreage thresholds without full scrutiny by the Scottish Parliament, amid concerns future governments could dilute the reforms. Ms Villalba said more ambitious action is needed to dismantle Scotland's entrenched 'land monopoly'. Mercedes Villalba outside the Trump course in Balmedie (Image: Contributed) Despite over two decades of land reform legislation, the country is often cited as having the most unequal land ownership in the western world. Research published last year by former Green MSP and land reform advocate Andy Wightman found that half of Scotland's privately owned rural land—some 3.2 million hectares—is held by just 433 owners, including estates, corporations and trusts. Community bodies, by contrast, own only around 2.8% of rural land. Campaigners argue that this extreme concentration has remained largely unchanged since the early 20th century, resulting in 'localised monopoly' power in some areas. However, in response to the Scottish Government's consultation, Scottish Land and Estates argued there is no substantial evidence that the scale of landholdings negatively impacts the country. They said scale and concentration should be treated as separate issues. 'There appears to be no evidence that there is a detrimental impact on Scotland due to the scale of land holdings,' they said. ' The Scottish Land Commission's own evidence points to the issue being potentially one of concentrated land ownership in specific areas, rather than scale itself. Therefore any measure of scale will always be an inappropriate instrument in dealing with any adverse impacts on communities or the prosperity of Scotland in a wider context.' READ MORE Ms Villalba said:'To deal with the serious problem of concentrated land ownership, we need a radical shift that prioritises community benefit and empowers local people to shape the future of their land, rather than merely tinkering round the edges. 'Today, Scotland's land is concentrated in the hands of the new nobility—asset managers, foreign billionaires, and the inheritors of huge estates. Just 0.025% of the population own 67% of our countryside. 'This Bill presents a chance to change that, break the ultra-wealthy's grasp on Scotland's resources and build a fairer, more prosperous Scotland for all of us. But currently it simply does not meet the scale of the challenge. 'That is why the proposals must include a presumed limit on ownership over 500 hectares, unless it is in the public interest. 'Without a meaningful public interest test, we risk allowing land to be sold or managed in ways that benefit private interests at the expense of the public good. We need a mechanism that ensures that decisions about land are made with the long-term wellbeing of our communities at heart.'
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Why is land reform on the agenda in Scotland?
MSPs have given their initial backing to a new Land Reform Scottish government says it wants to change the way land is owned and managed across the country "for the better".Some campaigners are calling for the bill to go further, while landowners have described the proposals as "unworkable".What is land reform and why is it on the agenda? Why is this happening? Scotland has one of the most concentrated landownership patterns in the developed times this has lead to social struggles - such as when crofters won legal rights in 1886 - and has inspired plays and protest in recent in the Highlands and Islands have bought and managed vast swathes of land over recent decades, and a community right-to-buy was made law in many still feel that more change is by the former Green MSP Andy Wightman suggests that the concentration of landowners has increased in recent years with 50% of land owned by around 420 people. Around 4% is owned by people and companies from abroad. Land in Scotland has also become more expensive in recent years and off-market sales are still common, according to the Scottish Land can also have land sales sprung on them. Residents in the south of the Isle of Skye complained when they learned a 20,000 acre estate would be on the market with only two days notice. Rural Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the case was a good example of why further land reform measures were needed. A parliamentary committee said the scarcity of useful land "stops some communities flourishing."Introducing the bill, Gougeon said that the Scottish government does "not feel its right that ownership and control of much of Scotland's land is still in the hands of relatively few people."The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to address the concentration of landownership as well as giving communities a greater say in what happens on privately owned land. What's in the bill? The new laws would regulate how land is used across Scotland as well as how land can be bought and would affect lots of different people, like the owners of huge estates, tenant farmers and crofters, and community-run have already been big changes over the years, but the Scottish government said that the benefits and opportunities of the country's land needs to be more widely bill is in two first part would make owners of the biggest landholdings tell the surrounding community more about what happens on the land. It also suggests ways to make it easier for community groups to buy land when it comes up for second part deals with agricultural and environmental uses of leased farm even while recommending the bill to parliament, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport committee said it was too big and too complicated. Why is it controversial? While there is broad support for much of what's in the bill, the first part - about land ownership and use - is more landowners have warned that ministers would be given far too much power to "interfere" in landowners business, including forcing the break up of large estates before they are sold into smaller Land and Estates, an organisation of private landowners, said that too much "unevidenced" focus was being put on large it argued that big estates could actually help meet aims like climate executive Sarah-Jane Laing said the bill required "significant revisions".She added: "As it stands, it threatens to burden rural businesses with excessive red tape and add significant costs to the public purse while failing to deliver real benefits for communities."But land reform campaigners think the bill does not go far Land Scotland (CLS) urged MSPs to push for tougher changes to break up "archaic" landownership in Josh Doble, CLS policy manager, said: "Scotland's history of concentrated landownership and lack of public oversight a has resulted in one of the world's most depleted natural environments, alongside a lack of opportunities, democracy and wealth sharing." What was said at Holyrood? Most political parties backed the general principles of the during the Holyrood debate, the Scottish Conservatives urged the Scottish government to scrap the bill and pursue other means by "working with landowners".Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said it was "by far the worst bill" he had seen in Ewing, SNP MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said a different approach was needed and argued that measures in the bill could "dampen" the rural Labour's Rhoda Grant said the party supported the bill but want to see it go further. Liam McArthur, of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, described it as a "mixed bag" and urged ministers to strike an "appropriate balance between rights and responsibilities".Ariane Burgess, of the Scottish Greens, supported the bill but said it was "disappointingly lacking in ambition".After the debate MSPs backed the general principles of the bill - by 91 votes to 29 - and it will now go back to the committee for more means it could become law before the next Scottish election in in the meantime the debate on how best to manage land ownership in Scotland will continue.
