Scottish Land Commission

What can land reform do for urban Scotland?

Join our expert panel to explore housing, climate, and community power in towns and cities.

📅 28 August | 🕓 4pm - 4:50pm | 💻 Zoom
🔗 buff.ly/P0cbP15

#ScotLandFutures

💬 “I wish I had done things differently.”

It’s something we hear often from landowners after conflict has emerged. The key? Early engagement, transparency, and active listening.

Our latest blog explores why these simple principles are so powerful: buff.ly/Hf2UAMg

'To meet the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, how we use our land is fundamental. Right now, it is not fair for humans, or nature.'

Read more from LINK's @naturepower.bsky.social and the other contributors to this thought-provoking series on Scotland's land reform journey. 👇

What would it mean to complete Scotland’s land reform journey?

In Part 1 of our ScotLand Futures blog series, 4 contributors share bold ideas & reflections on land, power & the public interest:

Deborah Long, Dee Ward, John Watt & Morag Paterson

Read: www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

🚨 We’re hiring: Head of Practice and Advice

Lead our Good Practice team and help shape how land is owned and used across Scotland.

💼 Permanent | £56,382–£69,018
📍 Inverness (hybrid) | 35hrs, flexible/part-time options
📅 Apply by 5pm, Fri 1 Aug
🗓 Interviews: 13–14 Aug, Inverness

🔗 buff.ly/hiKmIey

For 25 years, Paris’ water was run by private companies. Prices rose, investment dropped, and trust fell. In 2008, the city took water back into public ownership, setting up: Eau de Paris (public water operator) Paris Water Observatory (advisory body) The goal was to ensure fair pricing, strengthen public accountability, and make water serve people rather than profit.

Giving citizens a seat at the table 💬 The Paris Water Observatory brings together housing groups, tenants, trade unions, environmental organisations, academics and councillors. Its role is to advise the city on water policy and act as a bridge between Parisians and those making decisions about their water. 📢 It ensures that everyday voices are heard in shaping water services. 🤝It helps the city develop policies that reflect community needs and priorities. Crucially, the Observatory also has a voting seat on the board of Eau de Paris, ensuring that decisions reflect public interests and values, not just profit.

Keeping it transparent 👁️ Transparency is built into how water is managed in Paris. All reports and decisions about water services go through the Paris Water Observatory before reaching the City Council, ensuring public oversight at every stage. ℹ️ Regular meetings and annual reporting keep citizens informed about how their water services are performing. ⚖️ Ongoing evaluation helps ensure that the water system continues to meet the city’s goals. The result is a publicly owned water service that is openly managed, with decisions made in the public interest.

Public ownership, public benefits ✅ Since bringing water into public ownership: 💧 Water bills have fallen by 8% 💶 €35 million a year is reinvested in the water system, not paid to shareholders 🏠 Policies support low-income households, homeless people, migrants, and refugees. Paris is using water services to deliver wider social and environmental benefits, proving that public ownership can work for people and place.

💧 Public water, public benefit

Paris took water back into public ownership to deliver fair pricing, accountability and social value. The Paris Water Observatory ensures citizens have a real voice in decisions, with transparency built in at every step.

buff.ly/bb51WP5

Land is part of everyday life in Scotland. It shapes where we live, how we work, and the stories we pass on.

Through ScotLand Futures, we’re looking at how land is owned and used, and how it connects to our culture, communities and future and we want to hear from you.

🔗 buff.ly/uA0WoVL

🌾 Tenant farming is vital to Scotland’s rural future. At the Royal Highland Show, the Tenant Farming Commissioner spent 4 very warm days (tweed jacket and all) listening to hopes & concerns for the sector.

Read Rob's blog: buff.ly/JQu2oPC

🌱 Lower timber prices. Less carbon project demand. More land for renewables.

Our new report Rural Land Market Insights Report reveals what’s driving Scotland’s land market.

Find out what this means for land use and policy:
🔗 buff.ly/eACCzYm

Community Rights to Buy give people a real chance to take an active role in the future of their local places.

A new consultation is looking at how to keep these rights clear and effective for communities taking ownership of land and buildings.

🔗 buff.ly/Rjec6bs

Land shapes our communities, economy, climate and nature.

But good decisions need good evidence, and that starts with understanding people's priorities.

Watch Land Commissioner Deb Roberts explain why your views matter for ScotLand Futures.

🔗 buff.ly/uA0WoVL

How can land restore nature and support local livelihoods?

At Loch Arkaig, a community and the Woodland Trust are restoring native woodlands while creating local jobs, training and education opportunities.

It’s a practical model for managing land for people and nature.

buff.ly/bb51WP5

What should the future of Scotland’s land look like?

As part of ScotLand Futures, we’ve been hearing views from across Scotland about what matters in land ownership and use, and the destination for land reform.

There’s still time to add your voice to the national conversation.

buff.ly/uA0WoVL

📢 We’re hiring a Head of Practice and Advice!

Shape land reform in Scotland, lead our Good Practice Programme, and support responsible land ownership.

📍 Inverness (hybrid)
💼 Permanent, 35h (flex/part-time considered)
💷 £56,382 - £69,018

Apply by 1 Aug.
Interviews 13/14 Aug.

🔗 buff.ly/sWj6qcC

At the Royal Highland Show, our new Tenant Farming Commissioner met with the TFAF members to discuss the future of farming in Scotland.

We want to hear your views too – tell us what a reformed approach to land looks like to you 👇
💬 Take the ScotLand Futures survey: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

New analysis from the Scottish Land Commission and SRUC reveals the rural land market is showing signs of cooling.

The 2025 Land Market Insights Report, launched today, uncovers how economic uncertainty is reshaping land sales and investment across Scotland.

Read the report 👉 buff.ly/1z1xjoy

Scotland Futures Stream - Royal Highland Show - 19th June 2025 Shaping Scotland's land future panel at the Royal Highland Show 2025

Can’t make it to the Shaping Scotland’s Land Future panel this afternoon at the Royal Highland Show? Tune in online to watch the discussion unfold 👀

🕒 Live from 3.25pm
🔗 Watch here:

The Land Reform Bill is progressing through Parliament, with implications for the tenant farming sector.

Our latest blog looks at some of the key areas being discussed, including proposals affecting 2003 Act tenancies.

📖 Read more: buff.ly/ozpC9lm
🗨️ Take part in ScotLand Futures: buff.ly/8fYLe0n

Join us at the Royal Highland Show for the launch of our latest Rural Land Market Insights Report with @srucnews.bsky.social.

📅 Fri 20 June | 3pm
📍 SRUC stand
🎟️ Free | ☕ Refreshments

Expert panel on how Scotland’s rural land market is changing👇
🔗 www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

🎧 Hamish Trench joins Neil McInroy on the latest Talking EDAS podcast to unpack land’s role in Scotland’s future and Community Wealth Building.

Tune in: buff.ly/DzdxOhB

💬 Got a question for the panel? Drop it in the comments 👇

📢 #ScotLandFutures panellists announced

We’re bringing together voices from across Scotland’s land sector for a big conversation on the future of land reform at the Royal Highland Show next week.

👀 See the lineup and livestream info: www.landcommission.gov.scot/news-events/...

📌 New research contract notice: Approaches to land valuation in the tax system

We’re commissioning research to explore how other countries value land for tax purposes looking at how land valuation data is gathered, used, and applied in tax systems internationally.

🔗 Full details: buff.ly/DUxLXdq

Last week our Chair Michael Russell joined a panel at the SLE Conference. A key theme from the discussion was the need for stability & confidence in the direction of land reform. This is the question at the heart of our ScotLand Futures initiative, and we invite you to have your say: buff.ly/S5CBEAr

What does it take to turn underused public land into a thriving community asset?

Campy Growers in Dundee shows how inclusive governance and a long-term lease can unlock real community value.

📘 Read the case study in our Governance Guide: buff.ly/EK3FZnq
📷 image credit: Miranda Geelhoed

Our team are at #SLEConf25 today ready to chat all things land.

Find us near the tearoom exit and explore:

📋 Good practice checklists to help simplify the LRRS
🗺 A new routemap for delivering community benefits
🗨️Ways to share your views on land reform through ScotLand Futures

Scotland Futures Stream - Royal Highland Show - 19th June 2025 Shaping Scotland's land future panel at the Royal Highland Show 2025

Hi Graeme, this is the live stream link: www.youtube.com/live/ckFFwdG... it will be live from 3.25pm on Thursday 19 June.

Hi Graeme, we know the cost of a ticket can be a barrier and we want to make sure as many people as possible can still still follow along even if they can't be there in person. We will be live streaming the event on YouTube, and the recording will be available to watch afterwards too.

Webinar: Managing Significant Change – Risks, Responsibilities & Opportunities
Change in land use or ownership brings both risks and opportunities. Learn how to manage it well with insights from land experts.

🗓️ Wed 11 June | 🕛 12–1pm
🎟️ Register: buff.ly/00KMdPf