Land

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on asset transfer under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act.

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 provides a right for community bodies to request the transfer of land and buildings belonging to public authorities. The Act sets out a framework for the asset transfer scheme and gives the Scottish Ministers powers to make regulations to fill in the detail of the procedures to be followed.

The new Scottish Land Fund will open on 1 April 2016, with £10 million available to help community-buyouts.

Land Reform Minister Dr Aileen McLeod announced the opening of the fund as the Scottish Government's Land Reform Bill reached its final stage of the parliamentary process.

The Minister urged communities to consider whether owning the land they live and work on could mean it could offer greater benefit for local people.

Dr McLeod said:

The new West Lothian LEADER programme will officially launch on 17 March at SRUC Oatridge College Campus.

The West Lothian LEADER programme will see £2.17 million invested in community-led local development in rural West Lothian.

Talented trainees were recognised at the recent Lantra Scotland's Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards ceremony.

These annual awards celebrate trainees, Modern Apprentices, students and pupils, teachers, tutors, training providers and schools involved in the rural sectors.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced that more opportunities for the next generation of farmers are to be created using public land.

Mr Lochhead last year set up an expert group to maximise the use of publically owned land to help farmers of the future to start their careers.

A new Modern Apprenticeship in Rural Skills, developed by the sector skills council Lantra, is now available.

A Modern Apprentice (MA) is an employee who is paid a wage and learns from the skills and experience of people around them whilst gaining skills and working towards a nationally recognised Scottish Vocational Qualification.

Land Reform Minister, Dr Aileen McLeod has announced that 52 communities have now been awarded a share of £9 million from the Scottish Land Fund.  

Over 500,000 acres of land in Scotland is now in community ownership - with over 90,000 acres of this having received support through the Scottish Land Fund.