Helping communities manage land and property

Our local management pilots scheme has been designed to encourage local authorities, development trusts and other eligible bodies to manage Scottish Crown Estate land and property rights in their local area.

We hope that this scheme – and the projects that emerge from it – will enable us to work with others to test different methods of managing assets, empowering communities and giving people more say in decisions that impact the land, foreshore and sea near where they live. We are keen to work with innovative proposals that have the support of local people including, importantly, existing tenants, and that will use Scottish Crown Estate assets to enhance sustainable development.

One size will not fit all. We are working with proposals that offer management at different scales, in varying geographical locations and utilising a range of assets. Some projects may wish to take on full delegated management with all the duties, obligations and administration that entails, whilst others will prefer enhanced local decision-making without taking on the burden of full management. 

Following engagement and consultation with community organisations, local authorities and others on the structure and design of the scheme (see here for a summary of consultation responses), the Stage One application process closed on 16 August 2018 and attracted 13 applications. Following assessment of those 13 applications:

• A total of six projects are now progressing to Stage 2 of the process, five of which announced in October (see here for the announcement), and one project has been brought in to the Stage 2 process following applicant feedback; and
• A further five projects are progressing to greater local involvement via alternative mechanisms such as leasing, or closer partnership working and collaboration.

The organisations that are progressing to Stage 2 and are now working up business plans as part of the next stage are:

• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Forth District Salmon Fisheries Board
• Galson Estate Trust
• Orkney Islands Council
• Shetland Islands Council
• Tay & Earn Trust   

The Stage Two application window has been extended in response to feedback from applicant organisations.  Stage Two applications will now be received up to the 12th March 2019, and assessment will take place up to 22 May 2019.  The Board of Crown Estate Scotland will decide which projects will be taken forward as ‘preferred projects’ at the end of May 2019.  The application Criteria and Guidance can be found here. 

If tenants within these areas, or other parties with relevant interest, have any questions about the scheme they should contact the relevant applicant organisation or get in touch with us at pilots@crownestatescotland.com.    

Applicants should read our Local Pilots Scheme Privacy Notice here.