Tenant Farmers Indicate Strong Desire To Buy Crown Estate Scotland Farms

11th August 2022

A pilot initiative to increase diversity of land ownership in a planned and managed way has attracted strong interest from tenant farmers.

Crown Estate Scotland offered farmers on secure tenancies across two pilot areas - on the Applegirth Estate in Dumfries & Galloway, and the area around Auchindoun in Moray - the opportunity to buy the holdings which they currently lease.

All 22 tenants who have expressed an interest in buying have now been advised they will move to the next stage. They've also been provided with an anticipated timescale for this stage and further steps of the process. This stage will involve the preparation of detailed Sales Reports, setting out what tenants can expect if they go ahead with the purchase.

Oster Milambo, Director of Property for Crown Estate Scotland, said: "The response from our tenant farming community to this opportunity is very encouraging. This pilot will not only increase diversity in land ownership, but also allow tenants to take full control of the holdings which they already care for and have worked for generations, in some cases.

"We realise that this process will be a momentous one for many of our tenants, and we will be offering support and guidance to assist farmers as they consider their options over the coming months."

The pilot programme has been developed following consultation and engagement with a range of people and organisations including tenants themselves, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, and the Tenant Farming Commissioner.

This initiative provides an opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own farms and has the potential to generate funding to help Crown Estate Scotland deliver on its commitment to invest £70m over the coming years to generate lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits for communities across Scotland.

Details of the sales process can be found at A pilot initiative to increase diversity of land ownership in a planned and managed way has attracted strong interest from tenant farmers.

Crown Estate Scotland offered farmers on secure tenancies across two pilot areas - on the Applegirth Estate in Dumfries & Galloway, and the area around Auchindoun in Moray - the opportunity to buy the holdings which they currently lease.

All 22 tenants who have expressed an interest in buying have now been advised they will move to the next stage. They've also been provided with an anticipated timescale for this stage and further steps of the process. This stage will involve the preparation of detailed Sales Reports, setting out what tenants can expect if they go ahead with the purchase.

Oster Milambo, Director of Property for Crown Estate Scotland, said: "The response from our tenant farming community to this opportunity is very encouraging. This pilot will not only increase diversity in land ownership, but also allow tenants to take full control of the holdings which they already care for and have worked for generations, in some cases.

"We realise that this process will be a momentous one for many of our tenants, and we will be offering support and guidance to assist farmers as they consider their options over the coming months."

The pilot programme has been developed following consultation and engagement with a range of people and organisations including tenants themselves, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, and the Tenant Farming Commissioner.

This initiative provides an opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own farms and has the potential to generate funding to help Crown Estate Scotland deliver on its commitment to invest £70m over the coming years to generate lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits for communities across Scotland.

Details of the sales process can be found at https://www.crownestatescotland.com/news/new-opportunities-for-land-ownership-in-farming