Land and
communities

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Land is a foundation for community life, affecting access to services, green space, housing, employment and sense of belonging. Where communities have meaningful influence over land, the benefits can be far-reaching.

Community ownership strengthens local wellbeing and resilience

Owning or managing land can give communities the stability and flexibility to deliver services, create local enterprises, improve amenities, and support long-term regeneration. It gives people greater control and accountability to influence decisions that will benefit their local area.

Clear routes into ownership and control widen opportunity

Mechanisms such as Community Right to Buy, negotiated transfers, and Community Asset Transfer give communities practical ways to take on land.

Community benefits extend beyond ownership

Even where ownership doesn’t change, responsible land management can support jobs, skills, access, climate action, local participation and financial benefits, ensuring communities share in the value created from land.

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Scotland has a well-developed framework that helps communities take on land or buildings that matter to them.

Community Rights to Buy

A legislative route that allows eligible community bodies to register an interest in land and, in certain circumstances, buy it when it comes up for sale.

Community Asset Transfer

Allows communities to request ownership, lease or other rights over public land and buildings to deliver local benefit.

Negotiated and partnership approaches

Many communities secure land through open dialogue and voluntary transfer from public or private owners. We highlight good practice and governance models that support this.

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Good governance underpins long-term success. We have developed a Governance Guide, showcasing examples from Scotland and internationally to help communities and partners learn more about structures that reflect local aims, capacity and accountability.

We also convene the Community Land Leadership Group, a collaborative forum bringing together national agencies, funders, community bodies and government to support the growth and effectiveness of community ownership and other community-led governance models.

The group provides a collaborative forum to:

• Strengthen pathways into community ownership, whether through rights to buy, asset transfer or negotiated purchase
• Explore hybrid and shared governance models that give communities greater influence without requiring full ownership
• Share experience, evidence and good practice to inform policy and delivery
• Encourage partnership approaches that support long-term stewardship and local benefit
• By aligning effort across organisations working in this space, the group aims to build confidence, increase capacity and expand opportunities for communities to play a meaningful role in how land and assets are owned and managed.

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Communities do not have to own land to benefit from it. Our Community Benefits Route Map helps landowners, investors and natural capital project developers identify opportunities to:

• Support local businesses and employment
• Improve access and amenities
• Enhance biodiversity and climate resilience
• Encourage partnership approaches that support long-term stewardship and local benefit
• Build long-term relationships through open dialogue and shared planning

This work supports fairer decision-making and ensures that land-based investment delivers meaningful local outcomes.

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