The debate around land reform produces strong feelings from those who are passionate about Scotland’s land, not least our members, who make a hugely positive contribution to land management and are committed to continuing this through their own work and by working with others. Our members are a key delivery partner for many of our shared aims with the Scottish Government. Scottish Land & Estates will continue to work with government to be recognised as such and solve shared problems.
For details of our impact on the Act and the implications of each part of the Act, see the following two documents:
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill [as passed] - Part 1 Large Landholdings Report
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill [as passed] - Part 2 Leasing Land Report
NZET Committee Land Reform Bill Stage 1 Report
On 19 March 2025 the Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee published their Stage 1 report following the end of Stage 1 of the Land Reform Bill.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Report
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform (DPLR) Committee published their report scrutinising the Land Reform Bill in January 2025.
SLE response to DPLR Committee Report
SLE’s response to the Scottish Land Commission's Advice to Ministers
In January 2025, the Scottish Land Commission published their Advice to Ministers on the Land Reform Bill Part 1 with their advice on Part 2 being published in February 2025. Scottish Land & Estates submitted a response to this which can be read below.
SLE response to SLC Advice - Part 1
SLE Land Reform Stage 1 Evidence Submitted to the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Land and Estates submitted Stage 1 Evidence to the Scottish Parliament on 22 May 2024.
SLE Stage 1 Evidence Submitted to the Scottish Parliament
SLE’s response to the Scottish Government consultation Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation
The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a new Land Reform Bill before the end of 2023. Scottish Land & Estates submitted a lengthy response to the public consultation.
SLE response to Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation Consultation.pdf
SLE's member surveys on Land Reform, transfers of ownership and sales of land.
As part of our work on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, we are looking to find out the attitude of members to letting land and how it may be impacted by the legislation proposed.
We have 2 very simple surveys available in the links below. If you could please take 5 minutes to complete these it will greatly help to inform and add weight to our submissions.
Survey 1: Agricultural Holdings And Letting of Land
Survey 2: Transfers of Ownership and Sales of Land
The Scottish Land Commission
There are many different views on the right balance of rights and responsibilities, and in 2017 the Scottish Government set up the Scottish Land Commission to find ways to make more of our land. We believe a positive debate on land reform should focus on the best use of land to achieve the environmental, social and economic benefits it can offer the country.
The graphic below outlines the Scottish Land Commissions' strategic objectives over the three year period of 2018 to 2021. They strive for productivity; ensuring Scotland’s land is used effectively to further the wellbeing of Scottish people, diversity; sharing the benefits of the land more inclusively and building on the idea of land for the many and not just the few, and accountability; ensuring communities are empowered to influence land management and land use decisions. You can read more about the Strategic Plan here.
We support improvements to information on land ownership, stronger community engagement and a vibrant tenanted sector. There are lots of different ways these objectives can be achieved in the future. We have many years of experience and insight that we’re already bringing to the debate.
The land reform debate also impacts the tenanted sector - this is usually referred to as agricultural holdings. The Scottish Government continues to work on implementing the most recent round of reform to agricultural holdings legislation and, as a key stakeholder, we are working with the Government and others on regulations and guidance. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 created the post of Tenant Farming Commissioner, whose role includes the preparation of Codes of Practice, with the aim of improving relations between agricultural landlords and tenants.
