Important technical changes to the calculation of non-domestic rates on shooting rights and deer forests have been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. The rates, reintroduced as part of the Land Reform Act 2016, saw valuation notices issued to proprietors which was followed by a substantial number of appeals entered to the Scottish...
Landlords of private rental property will now have until October 2020 rather than 1 April 2020 to complete any required energy efficiency changes to their properties. The announcement of these crucial additional six months comes after our open letter last week to Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning and Paul...
The implications of a new climate change report for Scottish land use needs to be fully considered alongside our food production and biodiversity goals, Scottish Land & Estates said today. Following publication of the Committee of Climate Change (CCC) report, Land use: Policies for a Net Zero UK, SLE chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing said...
A lack of guidance and leadership from the Scottish Government on the incoming changes to the energy efficiency of homes is putting unnecessary pressure on Scotland’s vital private rental sector. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has today written an open letter to the Scottish Government urging them to immediately publish the finalised...
Major changes proposed for the operation of Scotland’s grouse moors have not been economically assessed and could deliver a hugely damaging blow to rural Scotland. Following evidence by members of the grouse moor review group to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee today, a joint statement was...
New police training to detect and investigate instances of wildlife crime has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. Announced by Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Police Scotland has today (Monday 20 January) launched a new wildlife crime investigators course to enhance capability in this complex area of local policing. Sarah...
Commenting on today’s introduction of a new UK Agriculture Bill, Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates said: “Today’s UK Agriculture Bill gives English farmers more certainty than Scottish farmers which demonstrates that we urgently need a long-term vision to secure the future of Scottish farming and land management...
A vital link exists between the number of empty homes and the vitality of a remote, rural community, particularly in areas with a declining population. That was one of a number of key messages to come from a parliamentary debate held earlier this week into empty homes in Scotland. The debate came as a result of a short inquiry held by the...
At a time when Scotland’s fragile rural economy is facing unprecedented changes and an uncertain future, care must be taken to ensure any changes to the regulations for short-term lets doesn’t have a negative impact on Scotland’s vital tourism sector. Following on from the announcement of the Scottish Government’s intention to introduce a...
Today the Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) published a report calling for the Scottish Government to announce a transformative Climate Emergency Scottish Budget that will support Scotland’s transition to net-zero emissions by 2045 with rapid action required over the next decade. The report estimates the public spend required to...
