A comprehensive consultation on how Crown Estate Scotland rural land and property is managed has been launched.
Tenants, communities, businesses and sector bodies are being urged to have their say in shaping a blueprint for the organisation’s rural activities over the coming years.
Several events around Scotland will be held to garner views and opinions from the widest possible range of stakeholders. These views will shape a strategy covering 2019 to 2023.
Crown Estate Scotland Head of Property Andy Wells said: “The rural strategy will set out a clear path to determine how decisions will be made regarding the management of rural assets to ensure that we are helping communities and business to thrive - benefitting Scotland as a whole - and managing land and property in a way that is financially & environmentally sustainable.
“By the end of March 2019 across our four rural estates we will have completed £4.5m of investment and will be planning a further phased programme guided by the results of our condition survey to make sure that the right infrastructure is in place to help tenants’ businesses.
“The assets are dynamic – we can buy new ones, develop them, and sell to then reinvest. What we are keen to know is what should be the key factors that guide our decisions, how do we make sure land is being used productively, and how do we enhance the wider benefits for Scotland?”
Crown Estate Scotland manages four rural estates, wild salmon fishing rights, rights to naturally-occurring gold and silver, and forestry.
The final strategy will align with wider Scottish Government policy. The consultation period runs from 15 February until 26 April.
The full consultation document is here. Responses should be submitted through Citizen Space here and a summary of how responses have shaped the strategy will be published.
As part of the consultation there will be drop-in events on each of the four rural estates. These events are open to all and there is no need to book in advance.
Details of the events are as follows:
Rosewell Resource Centre, 85 Carnethie Street, EH24 9AN on Wednesday 27 February from 6pm to 8pm (presentation at 7pm)
Somerton House Hotel, 35 Carlisle Road, Lockerbie, DG11 2DR on Thursday 28 February from 4pm to 7pm (presentation at 6pm)
Glenlivet Estate Office, Tomintoul, AB37 9EX on Wednesday 6 March from 1.30pm to 8pm (presentation at 6pm)
Inchberry Hall, Fochabers, IV32 7QB on Thursday 7 March from 4pm to 8pm (presentation at 6pm)
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Crown Estate Scotland
Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) manages land and property on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Through working with others, we innovate with land and property to create prosperity for Scotland and its communities. This includes ensuring families, businesses and communities can live, work and thrive on the assets. All revenue profit is paid to Scottish Government for public spending.
Crown Estate Scotland manages:
- 37,000 hectares of rural land with agricultural tenancies, residential and commercial properties and forestry on four rural estates (Glenlivet, Fochabers, Applegirth and Whitehill)
- Rights to fish wild salmon and sea trout in in river and coastal areas
- Rights to naturally-occurring gold and silver across most of Scotland
- Just under half the foreshore around Scotland including 5,800 moorings and some ports and harbours
- Leasing of virtually all seabed out to 12 nautical miles covering some 750 fish farming sites and agreements with cables & pipeline operators
- The rights to offshore renewable energy and gas and carbon dioxide storage out to 200 nautical miles
