Land reform
Answer:
Half of Scotland is owned by just 500 people, few of whom are actually Scots. As Britain's great land-owning aristocratic families decline, a new breed of foreign laird is exploiting Scotland's arcane land laws to buy up tracts of the Highlands and islands - Europe's last great wilderness. In 2018/2019 it was reported that the largest landowner owns 221,000 acres (890 km2; 345 sq mi) of land in Scotland. The government believes 57% of rural land is in private hands, about 12.5% owned by public bodies, 3% under community ownership and about 2.5% is owned by charities etc.
Full answer here: Land ownership in Scotland
Land reform in Scotland, History, Law, Policy
Author / Creator: Annie Tindley
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
A comprehensive multi-disciplinarty look at land reform in Scotland
Rethinking Communities, Land and Governance: Land Reform in Scotland and the Community Ownership Model
Author / Creator: Carey Doyle
Media type: Article
Date published: 2023
Imagine being in a place where community organisations have wide-ranging powers over land ownership and use.
Community-based land reform: Lessons from Scotland
Author / Creator: John Bryden
Media type: Article
Date published: 2007
Close inspection of the Scottish land reform leads to a series of questions about the relationship between land reform and community.
Land reform is the pathway to building true people power
Author / Creator: Josh Doble
Media type: Opinion
Date published: 2025
Land reform – changing how land is owned, managed and leased – is a fundamental necessity in Scotland.
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the £25 million Estate
Author / Creator: Andy Wightman
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2026
The transfer of title of Scatwell to Strachconan illustrates the significant limitations that the Land Reforem(Scotland) has.
Who Owns Scotland 2025
Author / Creator: Andy Wightman
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2026
Sotland's concentrated pattern of landownership continute to get worse.
Real Land Reform for our People, wildlife and environment
Author / Creator: Revive
Media type: Manifesto
Date published: 2026
This manifesto sets out how real land reform can be delivered.
Country of Origin Report 2024
Author / Creator: Registers of Scotland
Media type: Report
Date published: 2026
408 landowners own half of all privately-owned rural land in Scotland
Scotland’s land reform : time to reverse the trend
Author / Creator: Josh Doble
Media type: Opinion
Date published: 2025
Land reform is the pathway to building true people power.
A Manifesto for Rural and Island Scotland
Author / Creator: Virtual Scottish Rural Parliament
Media type: Manifesto
Date published: 2021
The Rural Parliament debate on issues
Taxing Land in Scotland
Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell
Media type: Policy Paper
Date published: 2024
A proposal for a Local Authority controlled Land Tax
Land reform impact will be felt by all of Scotland
Author / Creator: Ariane Burgess
Media type: Article
Date published: 2025
Scotland has a population of 5.5 million, but half of our country is owned by just over 400 people.
This is what Zack Polanski can teach the SNP about courage
Author / Creator: Lesley Riddoch
Media type: Article
Date published: 2025
Bold is as bold does
Land reform in Scotland: where has it gone wrong?
Author / Creator: Douglas MacMillan
Media type: Article
Date published: 2025
Inequalities in terms of wealth and land ownership remain the worst in Western Europe.
Global learnings for land reform in Scotland: Towards more radical solutions
Author / Creator: Fraser Sugden
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2024
Scotland has long been one of the most unequal countries in the world in terms of land ownership
Community Right to Buy Review 2024
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Media type: consultation response
Date published: 2024
Community Right to Buy has not been functioning as it should for a number of years.
Land Reform Bill 2024 – Areas for possible amendment
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Media type: Briefing Paper
Date published: 2024
Significant change is required to make this a worthwhile and workable set of land reform proposals.
Land Reform Bill 2024: Public Interest Test vs ‘Transfer Test’
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Media type: Briefing Paper
Date published: 2024
The introduction of a ‘transfer test’ in the draft Bill is a watering down of a meaningful Public Interest Test
Significant landholdings and the criteria for a Public Interest Test and Land Management Plans
Author / Creator: Community Land Scotland
Date published: 2024
The focus on ‘large landholdings’ within the Land Reform Bill will severely restrict the ability of the legislation to impact the scale and concentration of existing ownership