MORE than 96% of respondents say Scotland needs further action on land reform, new research has found.
The Scottish Land Commission report has pulled together contributions from more than 1200 people in the same month the Scottish Parliament passed the latest Land Reform Bill, described as being the “most radical land reform legislation in the history of devolution”.
Developed through the ScotLand Futures initiative, the report found that while recognising progress made over the past 25 years, many respondents believe key issues remain unresolved and that further action is required to make Scotland’s land work more fairly.
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“This research confirms that people across Scotland believe the country’s land reform journey is not yet complete,” Michael Russell, chair of the Scottish Land Commission said.
He added: “The findings highlight a broad desire for greater transparency, a more diverse pattern of ownership, and more meaningful opportunities for communities to shape decisions that affect them.
“People want to see land used productively and responsibly, and they want long-standing challenges to be addressed with greater clarity and purpose. With more than 96% of respondents calling for change, it is evident that continued progress on land reform remains an important national priority.”
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People also highlighted concerns about concentrated ownership, absentee landlords and a lack of transparency in how land is managed. Many also pointed to long-neglected sites in their communities and called for earlier involvement in decisions and clearer accountability from major landowners.
One person from Stirlingshire told the commission: “Land is power, and those owning great swathes of it can exert economic, political, social, and environmental influence which may not be to the advantage of local communities.”
The new bill takes steps to address issues including: increased transparency, introducing the possibility of land sale “lotting” to widen opportunities, and requiring large-scale landowners to produce public land management plans.
The findings from both publications will help to inform the commission’s ongoing work and its advice to Scottish Government.