Scotland Land Reform: A New Fight

Scotland's Land: A New Chapter in an Old Fight

The question of who possesses Scotland ignites fervent debate. This issue transcends mere territory; it delves into the core of communities, economic disparity, and the allocation of power. The country's property distribution is among the most consolidated found anywhere in the West, a legacy that continues to shape its present and future. Now, a landmark piece of legislation aims to rewrite this centuries-old narrative, sparking both hope and fierce opposition.

A Landscape of Disparity

Land reform advocates highlight a startling statistic: just 421 entities, including individuals, corporations, and trusts, control over 40% of Scotland’s countryside. Dr Josh Doble, who is with Community Land Scotland, labels the situation as "shocking" and has called Scotland a global outlier. This concentration of ownership is not a recent phenomenon but has deep roots in Scottish history. Research indicates that despite two decades of legislative efforts, this pattern has in fact intensified. Land campaigner Andy Wightman’s analysis shows that half of all privately owned rural land is now held by 433 proprietors, a slight consolidation compared to twelve years prior.

The Echoes of the Clearances

The current debate is haunted by the memory of the Highland Clearances. Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, landowners seeking profit forcibly removed thousands of families to introduce large-scale sheep farming. This traumatic period reshaped the Highlands, creating the vast, depopulated landscapes seen today and embedding a deep sense of historical grievance. These events eventually spurred the country's initial significant land legislation; the 1886 Crofters Holdings Act granted small tenant farmers protected occupancy for the first time. The legacy of the clearances continues to fuel the modern drive for a more equitable distribution of land.

A New Legislative Battleground

The rate of legislative change has accelerated since the establishment of devolution back in 1999. The government's most recent and ambitious effort is a piece of legislation called the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, which passed in the Scottish Parliament on 6 November 2025. This legislation introduces sweeping changes, giving ministers the authority to divide large properties over 1,000 hectares when they are sold, if deemed to be in the public interest. It also seeks to simplify the process for community acquisitions and provide tenant farmers with greater protections and information about how the land they work is managed.

A Watershed Moment for Communities

Ministers from the Scottish National Party assert that the new law empowers previously marginalised communities, giving them a significant say in their own economic and social futures. The bill includes provisions for advance notice of large land sales, allowing communities time to consider exercising a Right to Buy. Supporters believe these measures are a crucial step towards redressing historical imbalances and fostering more resilient local economies. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has called the bill's passage a "watershed moment," emphasising that it provides influence to those previously unheard and allows communities to breathe new life into rural Scotland.

Accusations of Ideological Overreach

The legislation has been met with staunch opposition from property holders and those who represent them. Critics have condemned the legislation, describing it as an impractical and unparalleled attack on the rights of private owners, with some even raising the spectre of a class-based conflict. As chief executive for Scottish Land and Estates, Sarah-Jane Laing argues the bill is driven by an ideology bent on dismantling estates as a primary goal. She cautions this strategy could prove "extremely harmful to communities, employment, and the environment" and has labelled the legislation "junk law," a sentiment she claims is shared by a spectrum of professionals from lawyers to accountants.

The Bureaucracy Bog

A primary criticism from opponents is that the bill will create excessive bureaucracy and legal confusion rather than meaningful reform. The requirement for large estates to develop Land Management Plans has been singled out as an expensive and onerous burden not placed on other types of businesses. There are fears that the complexity of the new regulations will deter investment, stall development, and ultimately harm the rural economy. Opponents suggest the only beneficiaries will be lawyers navigating the intricate new legal landscape and potential court challenges.

The Knoydart Example

The rugged Knoydart peninsula, located in the western Highlands, offers a powerful counter-narrative. Once the site of brutal 19th-century clearances, Knoydart is now a beacon of community-led proprietorship. The local population bought a significant part of the territory back in 1999, where they resided and were employed. A quarter-century later, the locale is flourishing. The population has doubled, new businesses have emerged, and significant environmental projects have been undertaken, including an initiative that saw 600,000 trees planted and the modernisation of a community-owned hydroelectric scheme.

A Flourishing Peninsula

Responsibility for managing the estate falls to the Knoydart Foundation, and its success demonstrates the potential of community control. The foundation oversees the village shop, a bunkhouse, affordable housing, and renewable energy, providing vital services and jobs. Davie Newton, a key figure in the buyout, highlights the confidence and experience acquired when a community directs its own path. The recent acquisition of planning permission for six new affordable homes further illustrates the community's proactive approach to tackling local challenges like housing shortages.

Britain's Most Remote Pub

A tangible symbol of Knoydart's revitalisation is the pub known as The Old Forge, located in Inverie and considered Great Britain's most remote mainland establishment. Now also held by the community, it is a hub for residents and visitors alike. Manager Stephanie Harris observes the tangible progress during the last quarter-century, noting the increase in residents, children, and entrepreneurial opportunities. She sees the continued desire of people to move to Knoydart as clear evidence that the community ownership model is working, fostering a vibrant and sustainable future for the isolated peninsula.

Image Credit - by Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Case for Scale

However, advocates for large estates argue that scale can be a force for good. Sarah-Jane Laing contends that large, unified landholdings are often necessary to deliver ambitious environmental projects like peatland restoration and river rewilding, alongside developing housing, renewable energy, and diverse businesses. Breaking up these estates, she argues, could jeopardise such integrated and landscape-scale initiatives. This perspective suggests that focusing solely on the idea that largeness is inherently negative is an oversimplification that ignores the potential benefits of scale.

A Different Model of Landownership

An example of positive large-scale ownership is presented at Preston Hall Farm, located in Midlothian. The property covers 650 hectares and accommodates a wide array of ventures, including coffee bean roasters and ceramics workshops. Will Callander, the landowner, emphasises that the goal is not vast profits but creating a dynamic and happy community. He expresses concerns that the new legislation could create uncertainty, deterring the kind of investment and innovation that allows such diverse rural businesses to flourish. His perspective highlights a model where landowners see themselves as custodians working in partnership with their community.

The Rise of 'Green Lairds'

The discussion surrounding property proprietorship has a new dimension with the emergence of "green lairds." These are wealthy individuals and corporations acquiring vast tracts of land for conservation and "rewilding" projects. Anders Povlsen, a billionaire from Denmark, is now Scotland's most significant private proprietor, having acquired over 88,000 hectares for environmental restoration. While these projects are often lauded for their ecological ambitions, they have also contributed to the increasing concentration of property possession, with some campaigners raising questions about the power wielded by these new financial interests.

A Divided Parliament

While support came from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives opposed the bill, judging it to be unfeasible and potentially devastating for the rural economy. Choosing to abstain, the Scottish Greens argued the bill did not go far enough to challenge the power of landed elites. This fractured political landscape underscores the complexity of the issue and the difficulty in finding a consensus path forward.

A Push for Deeper Reform

Numerous activists for land reform, including Community Land Scotland, share the Green party's assessment that the legislation lacks teeth. According to Dr Josh Doble, the housing shortage in rural Scotland, widening inequality, and biodiversity loss all stem from the consolidated control of land by a few individuals. He advocates for a more just and democratic distribution of land as the only meaningful way to address these deep-seated problems. This perspective suggests that while the current bill is a step, a more fundamental restructuring of ownership is required.

The Land Commission's View

The Scottish Land Commission, a public body created to advise on land reform, has played a key role in the debate. Their research highlights that the concentration of power, not just the scale of landholding, is the primary issue causing detriment to communities. The commission's chief executive, Hamish Trench, has stated that their evidence shows a clear need for systemic change that goes beyond simply encouraging good management practices by existing owners. Their work has provided the evidentiary basis for the new legislation.

A Future of Contention

The new legislation marks a significant moment, but it is far from the final word. Opponents have already raised the prospect of legal challenges, and the practical implementation of its more controversial provisions, such as the authority to divide estates, remains to be seen. The bill itself acknowledges the need for further detail, which will be worked out through secondary legislation and regulations, promising more debate and negotiation in the years to come.

Ongoing Community Empowerment

While the parliamentary debate rages, communities across Scotland continue to pursue ownership. The Scottish Land Fund provides millions in grants to help local groups purchase assets, from village shops and cinemas to local parks and former military bases. These grassroots efforts demonstrate a powerful and growing desire for local control, independent of the actions of Holyrood. The success of these projects, from Glasgow to the Shetland Islands, shows a quiet revolution is already under way.

The Housing Crisis Nexus

A crucial part of the land debate is the acute shortage of affordable housing in many rural areas. A recent proposal from Community Land Scotland suggests a "Right to Live," arguing that people with established connections to a community should have a right to find a home there. They see the powers within the recent legislation as potential levers to free up land for community-led housing projects. This links the abstract issue of property proprietorship directly to the tangible crisis of depopulation and the struggle for young people to remain in their home communities.

An Unsettled Landscape

Ultimately, the legislation known as the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill represents the latest chapter in a story that began centuries ago. It attempts to balance the rights of private property owners with the public interest and the aspirations of local communities. The fierce reactions from all sides demonstrate the profound emotions and competing interests at stake. As Scotland navigates the complexities of climate change, rural development, and social justice, the question of who owns the land, and on what terms, will remain central. The conflicts over Scotland's landscape, which have developed over centuries, seem destined to persist for the foreseeable future.