Complete A Survey To Help Get Land Issues Finally Dealt With In Scotland

7th September 2023

A proposal for a Bill to address the centuries old, concentrated pattern of land ownership in Scotland and to restore land for the many by introducing a presumed limit of 500 hectares on individual sales or transfers of land and on the aggregate amount of land any person can own, and by strengthening the regulation of Scotland's land market by making land transfers over the 500-hectare limit subject to a public interest test.

The consultation runs from 7 June to 12 September 2023.

DOZENS OF LANDHOLDINGS IN HIGHLAND WOULD TRIGGER PUBLIC INTEREST TEST UNDER MERCEDES VILLALBA MSP'S LAND JUSTICE MEMBER'S BILL

Figures reveal 1,043 landholdings over 500 ha are owed by private individuals in Scotland.

There are 265 landholdings over 500 owned by individuals in Highland.

Just one week remains to complete consultation on the Land Justice Member's Bill.


More than 250 land holdings owned by individuals in Highland would be subject to a public interest test under legislation proposed by North East Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba.

Plans to place a presumed limit on how much land the ‘super rich' can own, sell or transfer, above which a public interest test would be triggered, form part of the Land Justice Member’s Bill unveiled by the Labour spokesperson for Environment and Biodiversity in June.

Currently, just 432 landowners own 50 per cent of all Scotland’s privately owned rural land. 

And figures recently obtained from the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland have now revealed that of the 2040 registered titles over 500 ha in Scotland, 809 are owned exclusively by one or more private individual.

These include 173 land holdings in Highland.

A further 244 of 615 unregistered land holdings in Scotland are thought to be owned by a private individual, including 92 in Highland.

Mercedes Villalba MSP said: "While some of these holdings are managed in the public interest, there are many that are not.

"The extremely high concentration of land in the hands of so few severely limits access to affordable homes, stifles job creation, increases land prices, and harms the environment.  

"The super-rich are hoarding land that should be run by community representatives and co-operatives for the benefit of everyone.

"Grouse shooting, landed privilege, and producing carbon credits for vast profits, are being put ahead of environmental restoration, affordable housing and community wealth.

"That is why we need a public interest test to ensure that land works for everyone.

"It’s time for a radical overhaul of the way that Scotland’s countryside is owned and managed."

Crofters, the vast majority of farmers, allotment holders, and other small scale land-owners will fall below the limit.

Community organisations would have the option of taking over land in whole or in part under the plans.

Mercedes Villalba’s Land Justice Member’s Bill was launched this summer following detailed discussion with campaigners, community groups and trade unions on how to deliver a radical overhaul of the way that Scotland’s countryside is owned and managed.

As well as creating a public interest test for land sales and transfers over the 500 ha limit, it also introduces a presumed limit of 500 ha on the aggregate amount of land any person can own and strengthens regulation of the land market in Scotland.

Ms Villalba added: “The issue of land reform has dogged Scottish politics for decades.

“For too long the public interest has been ignored, communities have been side-lined and the environment has been trashed.

“We have had years of discussing and debating, of consulting and reviewing, but now is the time to act. Now is the time to redress the balance and put the public interest first.

“My aim is to ensure that Scotland’s land serves the needs of its people.

“My consultation is open for one more week, and I would like to hear from as many people as possible."

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “I would encourage people to support my colleague Mercedes Villalba’s Bill.

“We see clearly the difference that community land ownership makes; communities who have control of their land grow and develop.

“While recognising that land ownership is a challenge, the outcomes make it very worthwhile"

To complete the consultation, which closes on Tuesday 12th September, go to www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/proposals-for-bills/proposed-land-ownership-and-public-interest-scotland-bill