ScotLand Futures - creating new land opportunities for our built environment In the seventh blog in our Joining the Dots series, Katherine Pollard, Head of Policy at the Scottish Land Commission, explores how land reform connects directly to Scotland's built environment ambitions. Drawing on the ScotLand Futures initiative, which engaged over 1,200 people, Kathie argues that land reform is not just a rural issue but critical to addressing urban challenges from housing need to high street decline. She outlines three priorities for the next phase of land reform: opening new land opportunities, rebalancing power to ensure ownership works for the public good, and shaping change locally through strengthened planning. With 96% of respondents calling for further changes to land ownership and use, Kathie demonstrates how existing powers, from compulsory purchase to tenement maintenance models, can be better utilised to create thriving, equitable and sustainable places across Scotland.

Out now: the seventh in the BEFS Joining the Dots series ✍️

In this new blog, Katherine Pollard of the Scottish Land Commission explores how land reform connects to housing, high streets, retrofit and community empowerment.

Take a look:

New advice from the Scottish Land Commission highlights how tax could support climate action and land reform — but also the practical challenges of introducing a peatland carbon tax. 🧵

Government to lift paywall from large parts of the Land Registry Exclusive: finding out who owns land will become simpler under plans to make the best use of green spaces and hit net zero targets

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Islay visit – 12–13 March

Following the earlier cancellation due to ferry disruption, Rob Black, Tenant Farming Commissioner, will now be visiting Islay this week.

If you’d like to arrange a meeting while he’s on the island, please get in touch - tfc@landcommission.gov.scot

Today the Scottish Land Commission publishes its ScotLand Futures roadmap, setting out practical steps to reform how land is owned and used.

Three priorities:
🌱 Open up land opportunities
⚖️ Rebalance ownership power
🏘️ Put communities at the heart of decisions

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TFC – Island Visits

Rob Black & Peter McDougall will be on Bute this evening and on Islay on 18–19 Feb, attending STFA meetings.

They’re keen to meet tenant farmers and landlords informally during the day to hear about experiences of tenancy and the sector more widely.

tfc@landcommission.gov.scot

How do you value land – and why does it matter for reform?

In our latest guest blog, Dr Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins unpacks why land valuation is harder than it looks, drawing on recent discussions in Wales and reflecting on what this means for tax and land reform across the UK.

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Land Use Changed the Climate. Now Climate’s Changing the Land Land-use change has long been recognized as a major contributor to global warming. Deforestation and agriculture alone account for nearly 25% of human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Recommended read: In addition to land use shaping the climate, climate change is now increasingly “changing the land”, according to satellite monitoring by @worldresources.bsky.social, creating a “dangerous feedback loop”.

A last blog for the year - some land reform reflections as 2025 draws to a close: www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

Voices from Scotland, part of our ScotLand Futures initiative, brings together perspectives from across the country on the outcomes land reform should deliver for people, nature and the economy.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

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Our Rural Land Market Data Report 2025 is out this week.

In a new blog, Research Officer Julie Rostan explains what the latest data tells us, and why hidden sale prices could be masking the true scale of Scotland’s rural land market.

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New Rural Land Market Data Report 2025 shows Scotland’s rural land market continued to cooled in 2024:

🌲 Forestry prices down to £10,054/ha - a drop of 34% from 2023
🏘️ Only 6 large-scale estate sales - a 5 year low
🚜Farmland prices rose slightly to an average of £16,502/ha

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Today's ScotLand Futures publications capture views from a wide mix of people across Scotland and show a strong appetite for further changes in how land is owned and used.

In the new year we'll be sharing the Commission's own thinking on the next big steps in Scotland's land reform journey.

📌 Scotland takes important step towards fairer use and ownership of land

Scottish Land Commission statement on the passing of the Land Reform Bill

New research with WPI Economics shows Scotland could learn from global best practice to build a fairer, greener land tax system.

www.landcommission.gov.scot/downloads/68...

In Part 3 of our ScotLand Futures blog series, four new contributors share their insights on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Scotland’s land reform journey, from national policy gaps to community empowerment, private land stewardship, & the power of partnership.

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📍 We’ve been to Wick and Dumfries, and now we’re heading to Stornoway.

Join our Chair, Chief Exec and Commissioners for a public meeting to talk about the land issues that matter most to your community.

📅 7pm, Wednesday 8 October
📍 The Bayhead Bridge Centre, HS1 2EB
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The Highlands Reimagined podcast asks what it takes for young people to stay & thrive in Mackay Country.

In the final episode, Commissioner Lucy Beattie reflects on land reform, community power, and how a more transparent, diverse system of land ownership can open up opportunities: buff.ly/RlGQCPV

Can tax support climate and land reform goals?

We’ve published interim advice on how tax could:

✔️ cut land-based carbon emissions
✔️ support wider land reform
✔️ raise revenue for national priorities

Read our advice here: buff.ly/dDuS27A

A good afternoon with our @scottishlandcom.bsky.social board at Forsinard. Many thanks to @rspbscotland.bsky.social for insights into lots of good work going on in the Flow Country.

Why land, community and not just the "me" but the "we" matter - here's the text of my Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Scotland. And if you want to share your thoughts, please do so with the Scottish Land Commission's ScotLand Futures by Saturday, at: www.landcommission.gov.scot/scotland-fut...

The @scottishlandcom.bsky.social meets in Wick next week and will be holding a public meeting there & then elsewhere over the next few weeks

Some more and varied contributions on the question of what it would look like to complete Scotland's land reform journey - the question asked by our #ScotLandFutures initiative.

We’re hitting the road!

This autumn, the Scottish Land Commission is hosting public meetings across Scotland.

We will be in:

📍 Wick, Dumfries, Stornoway and Aberdeen

🎟️ Booking open for Wick and Dumfries | Booking coming soon for Stornoway and Aberdeen

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What can land reform do for urban Scotland?

Join our expert panel to explore housing, climate, and community power in towns and cities.

📅 28 August | 🕓 4pm - 4:50pm | 💻 Zoom
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#ScotLandFutures

'To meet the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, how we use our land is fundamental. Right now, it is not fair for humans, or nature.'

Read more from LINK's @naturepower.bsky.social and the other contributors to this thought-provoking series on Scotland's land reform journey. 👇

The first in a series of contributions sharing different perspectives on what it would mean to complete Scotland's land reform journey #ScotLandFutures

📢 We’re hiring a Head of Practice and Advice!

Shape land reform in Scotland, lead our Good Practice Programme, and support responsible land ownership.

📍 Inverness (hybrid)
💼 Permanent, 35h (flex/part-time considered)
💷 £56,382 - £69,018

Apply by 1 Aug.
Interviews 13/14 Aug.

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What should the future of Scotland’s land look like?

As part of ScotLand Futures, we’ve been hearing views from across Scotland about what matters in land ownership and use, and the destination for land reform.

There’s still time to add your voice to the national conversation.

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Great opportunity to join our @scottishlandcom.bsky.social team in a leadership role as Head of Practice & Advice, leading our work advising land owners, managers and communities.

Happy to have a chat with anyone interested in applying👇