The Scottish Parliament has approved a new bill aimed at reforming land ownership in Scotland, which could potentially lead to the division of some large estates. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill seeks to address the concentration of rural land ownership by a small number of individuals and aims to enhance community involvement in land management. The legislation is designed to facilitate community buyouts of land and may require large estates to be subdivided when offered for sale.
The bill was passed after extensive debate, with 85 votes in favor, 28 against, and nine abstentions. Research indicates that approximately 50% of Scotland’s land is owned by just 420 individuals, prompting government officials to claim that the reforms will help rectify this imbalance.
Prominent features of the bill include a “transfer test” ensuring that sales of land larger than 1,000 hectares require government approval for subdivision. Additionally, owners planning to sell large landholdings must notify the government, which will in turn inform local community groups of the opportunity to purchase the land. The legislation mandates that owners publish a management plan for their land and imposes fines up to £40,000 for non-compliance. It also proposes the establishment of a Land and Communities Commissioner to oversee the implementation of the bill’s objectives.
While some land reform advocates have expressed approval for aspects of the bill, they note that it does not do enough to disrupt established land ownership patterns. Conversely, opponents, including representatives from landowning estates, have voiced concerns regarding potential encroachments on property rights and the practicality of the legislation. The Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, has described the reforms as a balanced approach to improve land management for the broader community, despite objections regarding the bill’s comprehensiveness.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr4d770znpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss