Landowners' Commitment

Our Landowners' Commitment sets outs the principles and responsibilities of modern land ownership.

It sets out good practice for landowners on how they can continue to operate their businesses, while contributing to the public good. It is flexible according to the nature and scale of individual situations, and can be used for all types and sizes of landholding.

Landowners’ Commitment

We will be:

Open

  • Take reasonable steps to ensure that ownership of land is visible.
  • Ensure that landowners or their named representative are accessible and contactable.
  • Openly condemn bad and illegal practice where it exists.
  • Communicate estate plans to those who will be affected by them.

Inclusive

  • Have regard to community aspirations as part of estate planning.
  • Provide the wider estate community with an opportunity to contribute to relevant decision making.
  • Proactively welcome responsible public access.
  • Promote enjoyment of rural Scotland.

Enabling

  • Work with tenants and the wider community to encourage and support enterprise and business development where this fits with estate or farm objectives.
  • Work with the community where appropriate to assist in the delivery of its social, economic and environmental aspirations.
  • Act as a catalyst and conduit for inward investment.
  • Provide opportunities for people to connect with the land through education, employment and recreation.

Responsible

  • Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness and respect, and act with integrity across land based business activities.
  • Act sustainably: economically, socially and environmentally.
  • Adhere to all relevant codes of practice and regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure employees and contractors conduct business in accordance with the principles contained within the Landowners’ Commitment as well as any appropriate professional standards.
  • Be aware of how landowners’ actions and decisions affect those who live and work in rural Scotland and those who visit for enjoyment

Download a PDF copy of the Landowners Commitment