AROUND 400 people gathered in Perth today to discuss the next steps in Scotland’s land reform journey, just days after the passing of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Hosted by actor David Hayman, the conference launched REVIVE’s Land Reform Manifesto and presented findings from The Big Land Question, the largest independent study of Scottish attitudes to land ownership ever conducted.
The gathering put Scotland’s extreme concentration of land ownership into stark perspective, with roughly the same number of people in the room owning more than half of Scotland’s private rural land (421 people).
Speakers included Andy Wightman, Mark Diffley (Diffley Partnership), and MSPs from across political parties, alongside land reform campaigners, community land representatives, and environmental organisations.
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Max Wiszniewski, campaign manager for the REVIVE coalition, said: “Today’s conference demonstrates the growing movement for real land reform in Scotland.
“When around 400 people gather to discuss how land should be owned and managed, it’s impossible to ignore that roughly the same number – just 421 – control half of Scotland’s private rural land.
Max Wiszniewski, campaign manager for the REVIVE coalition (Image: James Chapelard)
“This is one of the most concentrated patterns of land ownership in the world.
“The Land Reform Bill passed this week is a step forward, but as the Cabinet Secretary herself said, ‘we have more work to do.’ Our manifesto sets out what that work should be in the next Parliament.”
The manifesto calling for further land reform in Scotland includes:
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A Land Tax (Scotland) Bill to discourage land hoarding and speculation
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Limits on the amount of land any single person, family or company can own
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Limiting large land purchases to Scottish/UK taxpayers
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A publicly accessible online map showing who owns what land and how it’s used
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Create 10,000 new crofts and common spaces across Scotland
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Increase the Scottish Land Fund to £25 million for community buyouts
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Obligation for landowners to act in the public interest, not just be incentivised by subsidies
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Use of Compulsory Purchase and Sales Orders to break up concentrated ownership
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Ensure more rural homes are designated for permanent residents
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A policy to resettle previously inhabited areas and create sustainable new communities
When it comes to the environment, the coalition is calling for Scotland to designate and begin rewilding and reforesting 30% of land and seas by 2030 and drastically expand peatland restoration and end all peatland burning
A just transition away from driven grouse shooting and other intensively managed sport shooting estates to enhance biodiversity was also listed.
The Scottish Government has already committed to working with the Scottish Greens to address one of REVIVE’s asks, ending small business bonus relief for sport shooting estates, which currently effectively gives large landowners 100% tax breaks as small businesses.