Buccleuch sitting tenants are offered chance to buy farms

Buccleuch, one of the country’s largest estates, has announced that it is in the process of offering to sell 24 farms to the sitting tenants on its Eskdale and Liddesdale estate.

Discussions with 11 of the tenants who had formally lodged their interest to buy are already under way while a further 13 tenants with 1991 act security will be contacted shortly to gauge their interest. The move marks a change of policy “as part of an ongoing whole estate planning exercise”, and could see a further reduction in Buccleuch’s tenanted land which has seen the sale of 22 farms across the south of Scotland since 2000.

John Glen, chief executive of Buccleuch, indicated that any capital released would be invested in new projects, such as Glenmuckloch pump storage hydro and Dalkeith Country Park.

He said that during the decision-making process Buccleuch had looked at the balance of economic, environmental and community impacts in specific catchment areas.

“The completion of this assessment on the Eskdale and Liddesdale Estate identified that the farms let on traditional tenancies can be sold,” he said.

He said that tenants who did not wish to consider purchasing their farms would continue to enjoy the security of tenure of their 1991 Act agreements. l Lord David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land and Estates, and owner of the Annandale Estates, has become embroiled in a rent review row – and been accused of ignoring guidance backed by his organisation aimed at reducing tensions during rent discussions. Tenants claimed rises well in excess of the current inflation index – introduced as a “sense check” in new guidance – were being sought.

However, Johnstone said in a statement that he wanted to offer transparency as rent reviews invariably attracted debate and commentary.

“We have followed the published joint industry guidance on rent reviews which states that current reviewsshouldbeconducted under existing frameworks and have kept the Scottish Tenant Farming Commissioner appraised of developments,” he said.

He added that while he was aware that a new rent review system was being developed, this would not be finalised or implemented in the near future.