CRtB - Furtherance of Sustainable Development


This is a new community right to buy contained within the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 which affects both rural and urban land. The right to buy land to further sustainable development includes salmon fishing and mineral rights and, significantly, this new right to buy allows a community body (which is subject to statutory regulation) to nominate a third party purchaser to take title to the ground being acquired.
 
It should be noted that this latest right to buy is an absolute right to buy, meaning a community organisation may force the sale of land even where the owner of the land is not contemplating a sale.


The Act sets out some quite strict requirements, however, which must be met before the right to buy may be activated. The key conditions are:-

  • The transfer of land is likely to further the achievement of sustainable development in relation to the land. 
  • The transfer of land is in the public interest
  • The transfer of land:-
    • Is likely to result in significant benefit to the relevant community to which the application relates; and
    • Is the only practicable, or the most practicable, way of achieving that significant benefit
    • Not granting consent to the transfer of land is likely to result in harm to that community.

The exact meaning of this criteria is difficult to determine, and the tests are quite subjective. However, it seems that the information level required is quite high as far as the expectations on community organisations wishing to buy land against the wishes of the owner.

If the Scottish Ministers sanction a sale, the price which is to be paid is the market value. The Act came into force on 26th April 2020.

You can find further information on the Scottish Government website. This webpage includes guidance for community bodies, landowners and other interested parties, request forms, and guidance for landowners, tenants and creditors (information also available in easy read). The Community Land Team at the Scottish Government is always happy to discuss anything related to this with community groups, owners, or anyone else who has an interest.