News

Short-term lets licensing scheme temporarily delayed due to over 1000 consultation responses

General News

SLE has recently received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison, setting out the Scottish Government’s next steps for its short-term licensing scheme proposals. We have included a copy of the letter here. The Cabinet Secretary advised that the Scottish Government plans to delay...

Pioneering conservation charity releases record number of golden eagles in the south of Scotland

Press Release

As part of a series of groundbreaking translocations addressing low numbers of golden eagles in the south of Scotland, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, which Scottish Land & Estates is a partner of, has recently successfully transported eight golden eagle chicks from the Scottish Highlands to a secret location in the southern...

PLMA to become voting member of Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee

General News

We are delighted to hear that Pentlands Land Managers Association (PLMA), an SLE member, is to become a voting member of Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee. PLMA was officially formed in November 2020 and its founding members represent over 75% of the Regional Park land area. Having a seat at the table will now enable PLMA to...

Dumfries & Galloway businesses come together to learn more on Business innovation and Climate Change

Press Release

Over 30 farmers, land managers and business owners from across Dumfries & Galloway came together on 19 August to hear more on sustainable eco innovation. Organised by Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business membership organisation, the group met in person for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Anaerobic Digestion plant at...

Opportunities for all to help Scotland's covid recovery and to tackle climate change

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has responded to a call from Community Land Scotland for new land reform measures to tackle recovery from the pandemic and address climate change. Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: "Demands for a further tranche of land reform legislation demonstrate greater concern about ownership...

SLE statement on SNP/Greens Co-operation

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, which represents rural businesses across Scotland, has issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a new SNP-Scottish Green Party coalition. Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “For some time there has been significant concern amongst rural communities and...

Response to raptor fatalities should not depend on location or land use

General News

Reports of five eagles being found dead on the Western Isles are very serious. Police Scotland has said that officers are investigating and it is to be hoped that the facts of these potentially shocking incidents are established as quickly as possible. The birds – four golden eagles and a white-tailed sea eagle – were found at separate...

Land for Housing Report published by Scottish Land Commission

General News

The Scottish Land Commission (SLC) has published its Land for Housing Report, which sets out their proposals on how increased affordable housing can be delivered across Scotland. The report details five proposals, each of which are designed to reform the existing approach to land promotion. These are as follows: The creation of a network...

SLE calls for Scottish Government rethink on one size fits all approach to short-term lets

Press Release

New licensing laws being proposed for short-term let housing could have a devastating impact on Scotland’s rural communities, at a time when people are reeling from the wide-scale impacts of Covid-19, says Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the organisation representing rural businesses and landowners. In response to the Scottish Government...

Call to support benefits of moorland management as grouse shooting season gets underway

Press Release

The annual grouse shooting season got under way today with rural communities urging: “Support Moorland Life.” Newly published research* shows that moorland management is sustainable and delivers a host of environmental, social and economic benefits and that alternative land uses would not produce better results. Rural businesses across...