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Land ownership reforms proposed Land ownership reforms proposed
(35 minutes later)
There should be an upper limit on the amount of land held by private owners in Scotland, a government-commissioned study has recommended.There should be an upper limit on the amount of land held by private owners in Scotland, a government-commissioned study has recommended.
The Land Reform Review Group, also called for a big increase in community land ownership. The Land Reform Review Group also called for a big increase in community land ownership.
The group also called for changes to the current tax system. And the group said the current tax system should be changed.
Tax "plays an important part in maintaining the concentrated pattern of large scale, private land ownership in Scotland," it stated.Tax "plays an important part in maintaining the concentrated pattern of large scale, private land ownership in Scotland," it stated.
The Scottish government believes the country needs a fairer distribution of land ownership, and is aiming reduce the dominance of large, traditional sporting estates.
The report's authors said the Scottish government should establish a Community Land Agency to facilitate negotiations between landowners and communities, with the goal of achieving a "significant increase in local community land ownership".The report's authors said the Scottish government should establish a Community Land Agency to facilitate negotiations between landowners and communities, with the goal of achieving a "significant increase in local community land ownership".
But they warned that public funding remained "critical" and said the Scottish government must ensure there is an "integrated legislative and financial support structure" to help communities in urban and rural Scotland buy and develop land and buildings. But they warned that public funding remained "critical" and the Scottish government must ensure there is an "integrated legislative and financial support structure" to help communities in urban and rural Scotland buy and develop land and buildings.
The review group also argued that ending the Crown Estate Commissioners' involvement in Scotland would "deliver wide ranging and important benefits."The review group also argued that ending the Crown Estate Commissioners' involvement in Scotland would "deliver wide ranging and important benefits."
It said the responsibilities of the Crown Estate Commissioners in Scotland should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.It said the responsibilities of the Crown Estate Commissioners in Scotland should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Elsewhere, the report said there was a clear need to update Scotland's system of compulsory purchase and local authorities should be given new powers to issue compulsory sale orders.Elsewhere, the report said there was a clear need to update Scotland's system of compulsory purchase and local authorities should be given new powers to issue compulsory sale orders.
The review group says that would help address the "persistent challenge of vacant and derelict land in urban areas". The review group said that would help address the "persistent challenge of vacant and derelict land in urban areas".
The group had been asked to look at how best to enable more people in rural and urban Scotland to have a stake in the ownership, governance, management and use of land.
The wide ranging 260-page report also contains 62 recommendations with a focus on the public interest and making the most of land use in Scotland.
'Direction of travel'
Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the relationship between the land and the people of Scotland was fundamental to the country's economic, environmental and social success.
He added: "We will study the report in depth and consider its recommendations. I am sure it will contain recommendations we agree with and some we do not but I welcome the overall vision and proposed direction of travel.
"I am pleased to read the recommendations on improving the availability of land, both rural and urban, and the need to increase access to rural housing, these are issues that will have a direct impact on many people's lives.
"The group have also highlighted the need to address transparency of land ownership in Scotland which I believe is crucial to taking forward this agenda."
Mr Wheelhouse welcomed the fact that the benefits of community ownership had been highlighted in the report.
He said: "We have always said that community ownership empowers communities, sparks regeneration and drives renewal which is why we have an ambitious target to get one million acres of land into community ownership by 2020.
"I am pleased to announce that I agree with the review group's recommendation for a working group to develop the strategy for achieving the million acre target and I will shortly be forming a working group to achieve just that.
"Land Reform not just about land ownership but how that land is used and managed and the benefits it can bring to the people of Scotland."