Farms and land-based businesses face higher rates bills as a result of the Scottish Government’s decision to press ahead with plans to remove sporting rates reliefs without consulting the sector. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, commented after an evidence session by the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government...
Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has welcomed the Scottish Government’s strategic action plan for wildfire, published today. SLE, a member of the Scottish Government’s new Strategic Oversight Group for Wildfires as well as the Scottish Wildfire Forum, described the plan as the culmination of productive engagement...
A Sutherland estate which has been awarded prestigious international accreditation for its conservation work has told a cross-party group of MSPs about how such work could help meet Scotland’s nature restoration and climate action goals. Grosvenor’s Reay Forest Estate in Sutherland not only secured the coveted Wildlife Estates Scotland...
A rethink on sporting rates applied to deer management has been welcomed by rural businesses – with a caution that more needs to be done on exemptions for game management. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, commented after the Scottish Government announced a series of targeted exemptions relating to sporting rates...
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has welcomed key amendments made to the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill during its passage - while cautioning that the long-term success of the legislation will depend on maintaining Scotland’s proven, collaborative approach to land and deer management. The rural business organisation commented after the...
The creation of a new Scottish national housing agency has the potential to be a positive step towards increasing the supply of much-needed homes across rural Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates said today. First Minister John Swinney announced that the new executive agency, to be known as More Homes Scotland, will begin operating from 2027...
Axing sporting rates relief would land a severe blow on farms and rural businesses, repeating the mistakes of the botched family farm tax, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The warning came after a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee, where government officials and Rural Secretary Mairi Gougeon gave evidence on...
Scotland’s rural businesses have been provided with little confidence by today’s Scottish Budget, despite being asked to invest, adapt and deliver for communities and the economy. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, said many of the announcements in Finance Secretary Shona Robison’s Budget were a ‘sticking plaster’...
Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has appointed Laura Ferrier to boost its natural capital services and advice for land managers in Scotland. Laura joins SLE as Policy Adviser (Natural Capital), with a particular focus on carbon codes, compliance requirements, private finance and establishing baselines for natural...
New research from rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) shows a decline in the number of properties available for rent in rural Scotland, as Scottish Government interventions have dissuaded landlords from investing in the sector. A decline in availability of private rental homes was recorded in 14 predominantly rural...
