Tackling de-population key to future of rural Scotland
Press ReleaseA new report says Scotland must draw on international best practice to urgently tackle rural depopulation, including the establishment of Repopulation Priority Areas.
Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, spoke as it launched policy proposals it believes can provide a practical solution to depopulation. The report was unveiled prior to a roundtable discussion attended by cross-party MSPs at the Scottish Parliament today (December 4, 2025).
The report assesses rural depopulation measures introduced by governments in countries including Norway, Canada and Ireland and examines what has been successful and what could be applied within a Scottish context.
Among the key recommendations of the report are:
Establish a series of Repopulation Priority Areas (RPAs) to enable interventions to be targeted where they are most needed.
Rural Impact Assessments for all bills, government programmes and policies requiring measurable rural outcome targets (population, services, housing) with specific ministerial oversight.
The creation of a Rural Homes Accelerator programme – a significant reboot of the existing Rural and Islands Housing Fund based on a model recently implemented in Spain.
Student loan write-downs for priority professions
Employer incentives for rural jobs.
Relocate new public-facing civil service teams and digital service units in RPAs (beyond city hubs), mirroring Norway’s policy and the UK’s broader levelling-up intent.
A total of 16 recommendations are made within the report, with SLE estimating an annual cost of between £80 million and £150 million, depending on how many of the proposals are enacted.
One example where action has already been taken to strengthen local communities is in Argyll & Bute, where Luss Estates Company launched a 10-year Land Use & Development Plan in 2023, with a key focus on attracting and retaining people in the area, including through the provision of more than 100 housing units.
Patrick Colquhoun, Assistant CEO at Luss Estates Company and Vice Chair (Policy) at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Rural depopulation has become one of the most serious long-term challenges facing Scotland. Communities cannot thrive without people, and yet too many areas are losing population at a rate that threatens their sustainability. What our report shows is that practical, targeted interventions can make a real difference - but only if they are delivered with urgency and consistency.
“Repopulation Priority Areas would allow government to focus effort where the need is greatest, ensuring that investment in housing, infrastructure and jobs is coordinated rather than scattered. Other countries have taken this approach with success, and there is no reason Scotland cannot do the same.”
SLE said that while the Scottish Government has published an action plan to tackle depopulation, all political parties must now bring forward more detailed and deliverable measures to accelerate progress - particularly as they begin preparing their manifestos for the forthcoming Scottish elections.
Cameron Gillies, Head of External Affairs at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The reality is that rural depopulation is already reshaping the social and economic fabric of Scotland. Schools are closing, services are being withdrawn and employers are struggling to fill roles. Unless we change course, many communities will simply not have the critical mass they need to survive.
“What stands out from international experience is that progress only comes when governments treat depopulation as a whole-system challenge. That means linking housing delivery with stronger digital and transport infrastructure, aligning economic incentives with local need, and ensuring rural areas are genuinely prioritised in national policy.
“Our recommendations reflect what has worked elsewhere and what rural Scotland has been telling us for years: people want to stay and build their lives locally, but opportunity and support must be there to match that ambition. If Scotland is prepared to take a more coordinated, long-term approach, we can turn the trend around.”