Land Reform

Young people should have the right to live in the Community where they grew up

In a new strategy document, Community Land Scotland calls on politicians to establish a Right for young people to live in the community where they grew up.

A photo of the CLS conference in Perth theatre, with delegates sitting at tables watching a presentation from one of our members

Reflections On The CLS Conference 2024

Atenchong Talleh Nkobou from the Royal Agricultural University & our Policy Manager Josh Doble reflect on our 2024 conference, the history of Scottish land reform… Read More »Reflections On The CLS Conference 2024

Own Yersel Scotland: Reimagining the future – Keynote Address by Michael Russell

At our 2024 annual conference, Michael Russell, Chair of the Scottish Land Commission delivers the keynote address.

A photo of the River Tarras following through trees in the lower Tarras valley with the sun behind

Let’s re-embrace Dùthchas as we rewild and repeople

A joint opinion piece from Ailsa Raeburn, Community Land Scotland and Kevin Cumming, the Scottish Rewilding Alliance.

Tables set up in a room with groups of people talking to stall holders

Celebrating urban community landownership at the Scottish Parliament

On 6 February, close to 200 people gathered at the Scottish Parliament to celebrate the achievements of urban community landowners.

aerial view of historic buildings in a city on a sunny day with a celebration happening outside

Understanding Urban Community Landownership

The first of a blog series sharing learning from our urban action research project Community Ownership Hub: Glasgow and Clyde Valley.

A photo of the sun setting over Pabbay Pier in the Bays of Harris. A lone figure is standing in silhouette on the pier

Scotland’s land reform journey is stalling

An opinion piece written by our Policy Manager, Dr Josh Doble and published in The Scotsman on 14th December 2023.

Transparency, Options to Develop Land and Community Empowerment: Time for Action

We were asked to write a blog for the Scottish Land Commission on their research into transparency and legal options to development land ‘Transparency of Options Agreements’ (Diffley Partnership 2023).

Beyond community benefit – a new deal for thriving communities

This paper proposes a transformational system of new community partnership agreements to ensure community priorities are included from the earliest stage of new economic developments.

Landmark decision paves the way for the Knocknagael charity to take the Scottish Government owned green field at Knocknagael into community ownership

Following a detailed and lengthy process, an independent panel has recommended that the original decision to refuse the asset transfer be overturned, subject to a number of conditions, and Scottish Government ministers have accepted this recommendation.

A photo of white washed houses on the foreshore of the Isle of Gigha with green fields, gorse and conifers behind.

John Watt – reflections on 25 years of land reform

John Watt reflects on his long career working in Scottish community development and land reform, the progress that has been made and the challenges that… Read More »John Watt – reflections on 25 years of land reform

The Credibility Gap for Green Finance

This research and analysis critiques the ‘green finance gap’. Written by Jon Hollingdale, an independent forestry and land use consultant and researcher, who has worked in Scottish community forestry since 1999.