On 22 April 2016, further legislation augmenting and transforming rights and responsibilities governing land ownership in Scotland entered into force. Furthering the Scottish Government's aim of bringing an intended million acres of land into community ownership, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 makes further provisions designed to engage communities in decision making and facilitate community ownership. How can Scottish Land Fund help community ownership?
The Scottish Government have announced that the Scottish Land Fund will continue until 2020 and have trebled support to £10 million a year. In its previous incarnation, the Scottish Land Fund awarded grants of £9m over 3 years to 52 communities across Scotland. However MSP Dr Aileen McLeod has drawn attention to noticeable improvements in the delivery of the project, including advisors for applicants and dedicated support being provided throughout the duration of any project.
Early applications to the Fund are now invited from both urban and rural organisations; which are:-
- community-led
- community-controlled, and
- defined by a geographic area,
to purchase land, land assets and buildings bringing them into community ownership and with a view to supporting responsible, diverse land ownership.
In return, The Scottish Land Fund provides:-
- The opportunity for communities to take ownership of local land and assets for the benefit and sustainability of the local area
- Access to grants of up to £1m per application, delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- An independent committee who will make funding decisions
More information on the application process is available here. The requirement of being an organisation defined by a geographic area poses interesting questions; are you able to narrow your organisation's catchment area to a specific region? We recently acted in a Land Fund acquisition on behalf of our client, a housing association, which required the narrowing the definition of the association's catchment area. Funding was subsequently secured to part demolish and rebuild the Rainbow Hall in Royston, creating a new 21st century community facility for local people.
If you have a development project in mind that could benefit your community, please contact a member of our Commercial Property department for further information.
