Scoping the classic effects of monopolies within patterns of rural land ownership – a discussion paper Scoping the classic effects of monopolies within concentrated patterns of rural land ownership – summary The value private landlords put on their exclusive ownership of large estates often offends against classical economic theory, to the detriment of local… Read more »

Scotland’s diverse sector of asset-owning community organisations is helping to address the climate emergency. This is being achieved through a range of initiatives. Community bodies are providing education and advice on energy efficiency, supporting local food growing and consumption, and helping people to reuse, repair and recycle. They are undertaking renewable energy generation, peatland and… Read more »

For too long vast tracts of Scottish land have been bought and sold as the playthings of the rich, with estates being viewed much like superyachts or designer cars. At the same time too few local people are managing to build a life in rural Scotland with some, in the 21st century, still fearing the… Read more »

“For too long people have been leaving villages and small towns across rural Scotland, because they could not find a house they could afford to live in, or were repeatedly evicted,” says Ailsa Raeburn, chair of Community Land Scotland which today publishes a new report on community led housing written by David Ross. “In the fight… Read more »

Scores of estates in the West Highlands and Islands were acquired by people using the equivalent of well over £100m worth of riches connected to slavery in the Caribbean and North America. Many would go on to be leading figures in the Highland Clearances, evicting thousands of people whose families had lived on their newly… Read more »

Community Land Scotland has received £48,000 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to build on and amplify the creativity and compassion seen in communities and across civil society during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new project ‘Owning our Future’ will support six communities to take an in-depth look at why the community ownership model… Read more »

PRESS RELEASE from COMMUNITY LAND SCOTLAND 29th September 2020 Call for University of the Highlands and Islands applied music students to compose for community land owners Music for a Movement. Music students at the University of the Highlands and Islands, will shortly be set an unusual piece of course work – to compose a piece… Read more »

Community Land Scotland is seeking proposals for this project. The full document can be found here. Project Outputs Project outputs will include the following: • A report containing a contextualised analysis of baseline data and an assessment of benefits as detailed above; • A separate set of narrative case-studies as detailed above; • An innovative… Read more »

The Viewpark Conservation Group and its 2,200 members has successfully completed a community buy out of the land which is the Historic Douglas Support Estate in Lanarkshire, fondly known as ‘Our Glen’ by locals, and a treasured green space. Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:  “Communities across the country, whilst impacted in so many ways… Read more »

Community Land Scotland is seeking a provider to develop a website for an innovative new project, the Urban Community Land Hub, operating across the Clyde Valley area. The aim of the Urban Community Land Hub would be to: i) Open up opportunities for communities to own more land in areas with complex land markets and… Read more »