‘Land monopolies’ cause long-term damage to communities, report warns

An investigation into land ownership in Scotland has found that the ‘irresponsible exercise of power’ by landowners is harming communities.

The Scottish Land Commission report, published last week, found that in many parts of the country ‘land monopolies’ over social, economic and decision-making power has hampered economic development and caused serious and long-term harm to communities.

It highlighted that some ‘vindictive’ landowners also use their power and connections to intimidate tenants and ‘create a culture of fear’ on their estates.

The report also said the current law provided very little protection.

More than 400 people, from landowners and land managers to community representatives and individuals, gave evidence to the independent investigation with the highest amount of responses relating to the Highlands.

The report stated: ‘Although many, perhaps most, landowners do behave responsibly, this research has identified strong evidence that harmful concentrations of power in relation to land do exist and appear to be causing significant and long-term damage to the communities affected.’

Although this ‘abuse of power’ was attributed to individual landowners’ behaviour, the report said that the ability to misuse power is created by the system in which they operate.

Speaking about the report, Hamish Trench, CEO of The Scottish Land Commission, said that concerns about concentrated land ownership had ‘long been central’ to the Scottish land reform debate.

‘The evidence we have collected shows clearly that it is the concentration of power associated with land ownership, rather than necessarily the scale of landholding, that has a significant impact on the public interest, for example in relation to economic opportunities, housing and

community development.

‘Good management can, of course, reduce the risks associated with the concentration of power and decision making, but the evidence shows that adverse impacts are causing significant detriment to the communities affected.’

In light of the report, the commission has made a series of recommendations to Scottish Government ministers, including a public interest test for significant land transfers, the requirement for a land management plan for estates and a statutory land rights and responsibilities review.

Sarah-Jane Laing, executive director of Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), the representative body for landowners and rural businesses, said the land reform debate must reflect the contribution of land-based business to the economy.

‘We are deeply concerned that the report still sees landownership rather than land use as the prime route to dealing with issues being faced by communities. Nor does the report adequately reflect the positive and substantial contribution made by rural businesses.’

She continued: ‘We also want to see more detailed and compelling examples to support the report’s claim that concentrated landownership is damaging fragile communities.’

Community Land Scotland, on the other hand, welcomed the commission’s recommendations and described monopoly landowner power as ‘an affront to a modern, democratic and socially progressive Scotland’.