News, media releases & opinion

£9m generated in first year for Scottish public purse

Crown Estate Scotland generated £9m for the Scottish public purse in its first year of operation, over £3m above target

Cairngorms Dark Sky Park launched

The high quality of the night skies above Glenlivet have become Scotland’s second recognised International Dark Sky Park

Timescales and next steps for new offshore wind leasing for Scotland

Crown Estate Scotland has published an update on proposals for new offshore wind leasing in Scotland’s waters

Crown Estate Scotland issues first agreement for critical CO2 storage infrastructure

This is the first lease option issued by Crown Estate Scotland for this technology since being established in April 2017

Parliament approves Scottish Crown Estate Bill

The Scottish Parliament has passed the Scottish Crown Estate Bill

Tenant survey launched

Crown Estate Scotland is seeking feedback from a wide cross section of its tenants.

Study reveals long-term UK floating wind potential – 17,000 jobs and £33.6bn by 2050

The Crown Estate Scotland-commissioned study sets out the potential benefits to the UK economy of floating wind development

11 projects progress towards local management of Scottish Crown Estate

Eleven out of 13 applications to a new scheme - designed to encourage local management of Crown land, seabed and coastline - will be moving forward in partnership with Crown Estate Scotland.

Crown Estate Scotland appoints new lead for energy and aquaculture

Colin Palmer has been appointed to lead the development of offshore renewable energy and aquaculture for the public body that manages leasing of Scotland’s seabed

Clyde shellfish project announced to support sector growth

A commercially viable development plan pilot for mussel farming has taken a step forward.

New project aims to increase shared value from Scottish land and property

Call for contributions to help shape new approach to managing Crown Estate Scotland assets

Clarification of Crown Estate Scotland’s role in large-scale kelp harvesting proposals

Crown Estate Scotland manages seabed in a way that protects the environment in accordance with Scotland’s National Marine Plan.

Supporting nationally important infrastructure

Construction of Aberdeen Harbour Board’s £350 million development of additional facilities in Nigg Bay is now well progressed.

Feedback on new offshore wind leasing proposals

Around 35 developers, local authorities and industry groups fed back on the proposals.

13 organisations apply to manage local assets

We are pleased to announce we have received 13 applications at Stage 1 in the Local Pilots Scheme application process.

Action to benefit Holy Loch sailors

A second survey has been conducted in the Holy Loch by Crown Estate Scotland to identify and remove abandoned moorings.

Have your say on offshore wind leasing - one month to go

There is now only one month left to feedback on proposals for how seabed for new offshore wind farms may be made available.

Natural Capital report: revealing the ‘value’ of nature

A trial project has found Natural Capital assessments – which help to define the value of natural assets – are especially useful for individual farmers and landowners

£4.5m investment to support rural tenants

Crown Estate Scotland is investing £4.5 million over two years in a range of activity on its four rural estates

Young farmer gains first tenancy on Glenlivet Estate

Crown Estate Scotland has announced that a first-time tenant will take over the management of a farm on its Glenlivet Estate.

New mountain bike skills area launched at Glenlivet

The Glenlivet Mountain Bike Trail Centre opens its new skills area, which promises to be an exciting addition to the Estate’s existing trails.

New community land management scheme launched

Crown Estate Scotland has opened up coastline, seabed and rural estates for local management under a new scheme.

Western Isles communities meet with Crown Estate Scotland

The Board of Crown Estate Scotland along with new Chief Executive Simon Hodge have travelled to the Western Isles to meet with local community representatives.

Proposals launched for new offshore wind in Scotland’s seas

Crown Estate Scotland has unveiled proposals to lease seabed to encourage a new generation of offshore wind projects in Scotland’s waters.

New study shows potential of tidal energy

A report published by ORE Catapult indicates a bright and competitive future for the tidal industry in the UK

Pioneering study finds seabirds avoid offshore wind turbines much more than previously predicted

The Crown Estate Scotland commissioned study has released findings on seabird behavior and collision risk around offshore wind farms

High levels of customer satisfaction amongst Crown Estate Scotland tenants

The findings of Crown Estate Scotland’s first ever tenant survey are now available online

Cabinet Secretary visits Applegirth Estate

Roseanna Cunningham MSP has visited a forestry site and met with farming tenants on the Applegirth Estate

Clyde kids raise trout for classroom fisheries project

Thousands of school children from across the River Clyde catchment are part of a project to raise and release brown trout into the river system.

Simon Hodge takes top job at Crown Estate Scotland

Simon Hodge has been announced as the new Chief Executive of Crown Estate Scotland and will take up the post next month (April).

Glenlivet mountain bike trails re-open for Easter

The Glenlivet Mountain Bike Centre is reopening on 30 March 2018, following closure over winter for essential tree felling works by managers Crown Estate Scotland.

Views sought on new scheme to help communities manage land and coastline

We are seeking feedback on a proposed new scheme to allow local authorities, development trusts and other bodies to manage land and property

Skye community trust makes progress

A Skye community trust we have been working with has been awarded funds to progress plans to purchase Crown foreshore, bringing adjacent land and foreshore into community ownership.

Scottish Crown Estate Bill published

Scottish Government has laid a Bill in Parliament setting out proposed long-term management arrangements for Crown Estate assets in Scotland.

Study to look at jobs and supply chain growth from floating wind farms

The potential economic benefits of more floating wind projects in Scotland is to be examined by a Crown Estate Scotland-led study.

Scottish Government's Energy Strategy published

Chief Executive, Ronnie Quinn, comments on Scottish Government's Energy Strategy.

Crown Estate Scotland Moray farm available for let

Crown Estate Scotland’s first open market letting will be Byres Farm on the Fochabers Estate in Moray.

Scottish farmers to trial ‘valuing’ nature

A natural capital project has started at Crown Estate Scotland farms

Crown Estate Scotland commits to pilot local management

Crown Estate Scotland has committed to launch a new scheme that will enable local authorities, development trusts and other bodies to apply to manage assets in their local area.

Preparation starts for new offshore wind leasing in Scotland

Crown Estate Scotland is to start discussions with industry, government and interested organisations to prepare for potential new offshore wind leasing.

Collaborative Scottish shellfish study launched

The Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers and Crown Estate Scotland have funded a study into the economic challenges and potential of taking a ‘loch-wide’ approach for shellfish growers.

Three-year plan launched

The plan outlines how we will help create prosperity for tenants, communities and for Scotland

Glenlivet Estate sets up conservation volunteer group

A new volunteer group has started work at Glenlivet.

Crown Estate Scotland launches tenant survey

Crown Estate Scotland is seeking input from its tenants on its future shape and development.

BikeGlenlivet Trails to close temporarily for essential maintenance

The mountain biking trails on the Glenlivet Estate will close over winter to allow felling of infected trees.

Offshore wind energy costs are down - but there is still work to do

The offshore wind auction results issued last week show a sharp fall in the cost of offshore wind electricity

Board meets with island councils

The Board of Crown Estate Scotland has travelled to Shetland to meet with representatives from Scotland’s three island local authorities.

UK Government support for Scottish offshore wind as costs tumble

Offshore data made public for the first time

Crown Estate Scotland now has spatial data relating to the organisation’s offshore assets freely available on their website for the first time.

Head forester retires after 35 years service

Mike Libera, the outgoing Forest Manager with Crown Estate Scotland, has spent 35 years working in the forests on the Applegirth Estate and in many other Crown Estate woodlands across the UK.

New Board visits Argyll & Bute

Crown Estate Scotland’s Board visited Argyll & Bute recently as part of a wider dialogue with tenants and partners across Scotland.

Working with NFUS to raise tenant awareness of waygo Code

NFUS and Crown Estate Scotland are working to encourage uptake of the waygo amnesty.

Harris marina project gets the green light

Crown Estate Scotland is delighted that Harris Development Limited has secured £1.35m to create the Harris Marina Hub.

Update on 2016/17 revenue

The Crown Estate has published its results for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, which includes gross revenue for its historic Scottish operations.

Community to manage Tobermory Harbour

One of Crown Estate Scotland’s most valued community partners has been granted statutory powers to manage Tobermory Harbour.

Board of Crown Estate Scotland announced

The Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform has appointed Members of the Board of Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management).

Crowd-sourced heritage project wins top European award

Crown Estate-funded SAMPHIRE involved communities up and down Scotland's west coast

Reflections on The Crown Estate in Scotland

The Commissioner responsible for Scotland reflects back on the achievements of our predecessor organisation, The Crown Estate.

Volunteers help maintain Glenlivet bike trails

A dozen volunteers have been raking, sawing and digging to get the bike trails into shape for the peak mountain biking season.

New Crown Estate Scotland Chair meets Glenlivet tenants

The Chair of the newly devolved Crown Estate Scotland this week toured its flagship Glenlivet Estate in her first engagement since the organisation started operating on 1 April.

Sustainable business measures the natural world

Commercial interests and the natural world are often viewed in isolation - Andy Wells, Head of Property, talks about Natural Capital.

Sustainable business measures the natural world

Commercial interests and the natural world are often viewed in isolation. The former can exploit the other, with environmental concerns all too frequently seen as an inconvenient obstacle to business success.

Clyde fisheries project hatches results

More than 40 primary schools situated across the River Clyde catchment are taking part in a project to hatch and release brown trout into the river.

Workshop demonstrates benefits of new farming technologies

The Moredun Institute organised a workshop for farmers at Glenlivet Estate to demonstrate the links between better disease control and improved economic return.

Big launch for Clyde in the Classroom 2017

An educational initiative for schools across the west of Scotland has welcomed its 25,000th pupil to date as the project is launched this month.

Work to begin on Glenlivet Luxury wigwams

A welcome addition to Tomintoul’s tourism offer has received a ‘green light’, with work set to start on the construction of new holiday accommodation on the Glenlivet Estate.

World’s largest free stream tidal power project unveiled

The launch of the world’s first large-scale tidal energy farm in September was hailed as significant.

Crown Estate appoints Andy Wells new Head of Property in Scotland

The Crown Estate’s Scotland Portfolio has appointed Andy Wells, who is currently Head of Countryside, to the position of Head of Property.

A European future for Scotland’s wave and tidal sector

This week in Brussels (8-9 November) experts will gather for the Ocean Energy Europe Conference.