News

UK Government urged not to put Scotland’s rural economy at risk through inheritance tax changes

Press Release

An opportunity exists for the UK Government to change course on its illogical changes to inheritance tax for farms - but it needs a willingness by government to work with the sector. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, made the comments as a Westminster Hall debate takes place after a petition against the...

Land reform cannot be allowed to decimate investment in Scotland

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has called for common sense to be returned to the land reform debate after calls from campaigners to ramp up measures proposed in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, which could decimate investment in rural Scotland. Before a Parliamentary committee today on Stage 1 of the Bill...

Appeal for urgent rethink by government on deer management proposals

Press Release

Land-based businesses, estates, gamekeepers and stalkers across Scotland have appealed to the Scottish Government to reconsider its approach to deer management, warning that proposed policies could jeopardise rural livelihoods, biodiversity, and Scotland’s natural heritage. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, said...

Boosting housing supply, not rent caps, key to tackling Scotland’s rural housing crisis

Press Release

Increasing housing availability – rather than an ill-advised narrow focus on affordability – is key to solving Scotland’s rural housing crisis. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, commented after giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on the Housing (Scotland)...

Calls grow for overhaul of Land Reform Bill as reports highlight fundamental flaws

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has urged a complete rethink of the Land Reform Bill, warning that its sweeping powers and lack of proper consultation or parliamentary scrutiny render the legislation deeply flawed, as highlighted in two newly released reports. The organisation commented after a new parliamentary...

Land market data demonstrates need to avoid ‘kneejerk’ policymaking

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has said a new rural land market report demonstrates the need to avoid a ‘kneejerk policy reaction’ to short term market trends. Published by the Scottish Land Commission (SLC), the Rural Land Market Report draws on data from the Registers of Scotland and the wider industry to...

Rural Scotland ‘sidelined’ in Scottish Budget

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has said the Scottish Budget does little to ‘move the dial’ on supporting rural communities for the long-term. Stephen Young, Director of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The Scottish Budget offered an opportunity for the Scottish government to put down a marker on how it...

Rural businesses urge governments to ‘reset’ relationship

Press Release

The Scottish and UK governments have been urged to ‘reset’ their relationship with rural Scotland in a renewed effort to restore economic growth and create vibrant local communities. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has published a new policy prospectus entitled ‘Rural Reset – policy choices from rural voices’ to...

Wildlife Estates Scotland appoints new project manager

Press Release

A new project manager has been announced for Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES), the international wildlife and habitat best practice accreditation scheme. Neil Gunn has been appointed to the role, which will see him assume responsibility for day-to-day management of WES. Hailing from rural Perthshire, Neil has a strong affinity with the...

Scottish Land & Estates expresses concerns over Housing Bill at Stage 1 debate

Press Release

Building more homes in rural Scotland is key to solving the housing crisis in these regions, not introducing rent controls, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) said today. The organisation, which represents rural businesses and housing providers, has raised significant concerns about the Scottish Government’s Housing (Scotland) Bill as the...