Land reform
Answer:
Half of Scotland is owned by just 500 people, few of whom are actually Scots. As Britain's great land-owning aristocratic families decline, a new breed of foreign laird is exploiting Scotland's arcane land laws to buy up tracts of the Highlands and islands - Europe's last great wilderness. In 2018/2019 it was reported that the largest landowner owns 221,000 acres (890 km2; 345 sq mi) of land in Scotland. The government believes 57% of rural land is in private hands, about 12.5% owned by public bodies, 3% under community ownership and about 2.5% is owned by charities etc.
Full answer here: Land ownership in Scotland
Global learnings for land reform in Scotland: Towards more radical solutions
Author / Creator: Fraser Sugden
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2024
Scotland has long been one of the most unequal countries in the world in terms of land ownership
Community Right to Buy Review 2024
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Media type: consultation response
Date published: 2024
Community Right to Buy has not been functioning as it should for a number of years.
Land Reform Bill 2024 – Areas for possible amendment
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Media type: Briefing Paper
Date published: 2024
Significant change is required to make this a worthwhile and workable set of land reform proposals.
Land Reform Bill 2024: Public Interest Test vs ‘Transfer Test’
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Media type: Briefing Paper
Date published: 2024
The introduction of a ‘transfer test’ in the draft Bill is a watering down of a meaningful Public Interest Test
Significant landholdings and the criteria for a Public Interest Test and Land Management Plans
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Date published: 2024
The focus on ‘large landholdings’ within the Land Reform Bill will severely restrict the ability of the legislation to impact the scale and concentration of existing ownership
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill
Author / Creator: Malcolm Combe
Media type: Article
Date published: 2025
Existing community rights to buy and their general non-appearance in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill
Scotland’s land reform journey is stalling
Author / Creator: Josh Doble
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2023
Scotland’s experience of land reform is often described as a journey, if that is the case then our journey is stalling and all but ground to a halt.
Scotland needs a radical grassroots movement for land justice again
Author / Creator: Heather Urquhart
Media type: Article
Date published:
A look at global struggles, or even our own history, offers a reminder that land justice has never been gifted, it’s been fought for.
The Land of Scotland and the Common Good - The Land Reform Review Group 10 Years Later
Author / Creator: Andy Wightman
Media type: Article
Date published:
Ten years ago today, the Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) published its Final Report.
Own Yersel Scotland: Reimagining the future – Keynote Address by Michael Russell
Author / Creator: Michael Russell
Media type: Article
Date published:
Reflections on land reform and a vision for the future
Scotland’s land reform journey is stalling
Author / Creator: Josh Doble
Media type: Opinion
Date published: 2023
Community ownership of land has flatlined since 2016/2017
Land Reform for a Democratic, Sustainable and Just Scotland
Author / Creator: Laurie Macfarlane
Media type: Book
Date published: 2023
The ownership, governance and use of land in Scotland remains stuck in the past.
Land Reform for a Democratic, Sustainable and Just Scotland
Author / Creator: Laurie Macfarlane
Media type: Report
Date published: 2023
Ahead of the Land Reform Bill, this report sets out a bold agenda for land reform.
Understanding Urban Community Landownership
Author / Creator: Carey Doyle
Date published: 2024
Scotland has a long history of community landownership. We are celebrating 100 years since the first buyout
Scotland’s land reform journey is stalling
Author / Creator: Josh Doble
Media type: Article
Date published: 2023
Scotland’s experience of land reform is often described as a journey, if that is the case then our journey is stalling and all but ground to a halt.
Land Reform Or Another Power Grab?
Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell
Media type: Article
Date published: 2024
The Scottish government has introduced land reform legislation to encourage community ownership by granting ministers powers to intervene in the sale of estates of more than 1,000 hectares.
The Poor Had No Lawyers: Who Owns Scotland and How They Got it
Author / Creator: Andy Wightman
Media type: Book
Date published: 2015
the untold story of how Scotland's legal establishment and politicians managed to appropriate land through legal fixes.
Slipping Slopes; The Common Weal Policy Podcast – Episode #190
Author / Creator: Nick Kempe
Media type: Podcast
Date published:
Nick Kempe talks about the problem Scotland faces with frequent landslips and how they have been exacerbated by Government policy and by the lack of land reform in the country.
Land for the People (Scotland) Bill
Author / Creator: Andy Wightman
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2023
This blog introduces Andy Wightman's proposals for a comprehensive Land Reform Bill