by Rhianna Montgomery
Last week, we discussed another concerning proposal in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and how this has the potential to slash confidence within the sector. Nobody understands the land better than those who live and work it, but proposals to break-up large landholdings into smaller parcels for sale, otherwise known as lotting, have us concerned.
This Bill has painted “big” farming operations with a broad, and frankly unfair, brush. It implies that if you operate at scale, you’re a part of the problem. That’s simply not the case. In recent times, the economics of farm production have forced many farms to scale up...and some of the most extensive units remain the most vulnerable in terms of viability.
Why we’re worried about lotting
Under the proposed legislation, large landholdings over 1,000 hectares could be mandatorily broken-up (lotted) when sold, at the discretion of the new Land and Communities Commissioner. While this may sound like a tidy solution to historic land inequality, it risks doing real damage to the rural economy and the families who rely on large-scale farms to survive.
Most of our members operating at scale aren’t absentee landlords or faceless corporations, they’re family farmers managing land efficiently and sustainably. At a time when landowners and managers are already headed towards a significant shift in focus and adapting to a more climate focussed sector, is now not the time to look at how land is used and managed rather than who owns it? Recognising and rewarding responsible landowners should be the focus, rather than an assumption that because you’re big, you’re bad...
A threat to viable businesses
This Bill, as it stands, risks turning successful, viable farm businesses into political pawns. Lotting could reduce the value of land, stall transactions and discourage potential investors. The lotting provisions also pose a significant administrative and cost burden to Scottish Ministers, particularly if small scale non-controversial transactions are not exempt. No one wins if uncertainty becomes the defining feature of Scotland’s rural land market.
What’s more, the Bill would give significant new powers to the Land and Communities Commissioner, moving the Scottish Land Commission from an advisory to a regulatory body. That’s a big shift and one we believe is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Clear, fair guidance is welcome. Enforcement that creates instability? Not so much.
We have already been engaging with government and stakeholders to make our voice heard on this. Our rural communities deserve reform that builds resilience, not one that dismantles working, farms just because they’re pigeonholed into someone’s definition of “big”.
At the end of the day, land reform should empower rural Scotland, not destabilise it. The lotting provisions, as drafted, risk doing the latter. We’re calling on MSPs to think carefully, listen to those on the ground and help shape a future where land is not just better distributed, but better understood and better used.
We’ll be keeping you updated as the bill progresses. In the meantime, if you have thoughts or concerns, we want to hear from you.
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