Community development

A review of Community Rights to Buy will begin this summer to look at how effective the current powers are.

Community Right to Buy has now been in use for 20 years. During that time, there have been several additions and amendments to the original rights in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, and various reports and recommendations on how to improve and amend them further.

Five areas - in the Scottish Borders, Galloway, Lochaber, Loch Awe and Tay Forest - are in the running to be Scotland’s next National Park.

A  new scheme from the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) will empower communities across Scotland to take over ownerless land and buildings, providing community assets where they are most needed. 

Researchers at The James Hutton Institute are working with a community-owned woodland in Aberdeenshire to explore how people can take a greater role in deciding how solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises are used in their local environments.

The project, involving Murray Park Community Woodland in Alford, is one of seven across Europe and Scandinavia as part of £4.6 million international project called “COEVOLVERS”.

Motorhomes and campervans have been an increasing sight on Scotland’s rural and island roads over the last several years.

Grants of up to £2,000 to support early-stage community-owned pub groups are now available to help with initial costs and feasibility work as part of the Scottish Rural Network (SRN) support for Community Wealth Building and Community Led Local Development (CLLD).