Land Reform Briefing – Rural Affairs Committee 28.10.26

As the Rural Affairs Committee (RAC) begins developing its programme of work for session 7 of the Scottish Parliament, Community Land Scotland (CLS) would like to take the opportunity to present some of the key land reform priorities the committee should urgently consider taking forward.

Our briefing sets out those pressing priorities but also takes a step back to look at the structural issues facing further land reform in Scotland. For Scotland to have a society and economy which is more equitable, resilient and prosperous the deep inequity of our landownership – our most fundamental asset – needs to be addressed.

Land reform is not just the title on the face of a new bill. Land reform cuts across multiple key legislative and policy areas from housing and human rights to the natural environment, from city centres to crofting communities. It is essential to delivering inclusive economic regeneration, putting Scotland in the hands of its people and ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future. The Rural Affairs Committee should focus on land reform, not just as an issue in itself, but as a means of achieving broader policy objectives and unblocking challenges in rural areas.

Land reform is fundamentally about changing how land is owned, used and managed, and through doing so re-arranging power relations. In a Scottish context land reform also means repairing the economic, social and cultural damage which has resulted from land (and the revenues that accrue from it) being a tradeable commodity held by the wealthiest. This requires a programme of policy and legislation which gives more people access to, stewardship over and responsibility for land in Scotland.

Read our full briefing in the link below.