EXTRA funding has been set aside by the Scottish Government to help communities across Scotland take back control of their land.
Overall funding for land reform will be increased by £3.4 million in 2017, with the existing Scottish Land Fund budget maintained at £10m.
The Scottish Land Fund awarded money to 49 projects in this financial year, with a similar number currently in the pipeline, supporting communities to develop proposals for purchasing land.
The additional funding will support the introduction of new measures which offer greater transparency around land ownership in Scotland for communities, tenants and land owners.
It will also support plans introduced in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 Bill to allow the Scottish Government’s programme for land reform to be taken forward.
“Scotland’s land is one of our most prized and valuable resources and has the potential to be a real driver for social justice,” said cabinet secretary for the environment, climate change and land reform, Roseanna Cunningham, yesterday. “The further powers contained in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 will help to ensure that we use our land to its full potential.
“Today we are reaffirming our commitment to provide £10 million for the Scottish Land Fund, which supports a diverse range of urban and rural community groups to purchase and take control of their own land, making their communities stronger, resilient and more sustainable. I am also pleased to announce additional funding for land reform which allows us to deliver a range of additional measures to ensure that communities across Scotland have powers to take control of land, as well as increase clarity around who owns and manages our land resources.”
“This includes plans to establish the Scottish Land Commission, which will be open for business from April next year, and which will play a key role in reviewing policy and legislation, helping to influence future developments relating the ownership and use of Scotland’s land, and ensuring communities across Scotland can realise their potential.“It also includes provision to develop arrangements for a Register of Controlling Interests, which will publish details about land ownership to promote greater transparency, and allow landowners to engage better with communities.”
An estimated 432 private land owners – 0.008 per cent of the Scottish population – own 50 per cent of the private land in rural Scotland as of 2012.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel