This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Community Right to Buy extended
09/03/2004
Communities within an extra 117 settlements throughout
Scotland will be able to benefit from the Community Right
to Buy, Deputy Rural Development Minister Allan Wilson
announced today.
Following consultation on the draft Community Right to
Buy (Definition of Excluded Land)(Scotland) Order for Part
2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, communities
contained in settlements with a population of up to 10,000
could be given the right to buy land when it comes to be
sold.
Laying the order in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Wilson
said:
"Following extensive consultation, the Community Right
to Buy (Definition of Excluded Land) Order has now been
passed to the Scottish Parliament for approval.
"By raising the population threshold from 3,000 to
10,000, communities in an extra 117 settlements throughout
Scotland will gain the legal right to buy their land when
Part 2 of the Land Reform Act comes into force later this
Spring. Land ownership will give rural communities greater
security with the confidence to determine their own
futures.
"I hope the Scottish Parliament will support thousands
more residents throughout rural Scotland being able to
benefit from having greater control over their own
destinies with the right to buy land which contributes to
furthering the sustainable development of their
community.
"The Scottish Executive is committed to improving the
prosperity and quality of life in rural Scotland. The Land
Reform Act is an important strand in delivering this
commitment, and it is one that we are extending.
"These changes bring us a step closer to realising our
ambition for rural Scotland."
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act was passed by the
Scottish Parliament on January 23 and received Royal Assent
on February 25, 2003.
The Community Right to Buy in Part 2 of the Act provides
an opportunity for community bodies representing rural
areas to register an interest in and buy land when it comes
to be sold.
Three draft orders for Part 2, covering the definition
of excluded land, ballot requirements and compensation were
subject to consultation from 19 August to 14 November
2003.
Two further orders for Part 2, defining the form and
content of applications for registration and on the format
of maps and plans and Ministerial letters were also made
available on request. The consultation was announced by the
First Minister, Jack McConnell, during a visit to Assynt on
August 19, 2003.
The Community Right to Buy (Definition of Excluded
Land)(Scotland) Order is the only affirmative order for
Part 2 of the Act. All other orders are subject to negative
resolution.
It is now for the Scottish Parliament Committees to
consider the content of the order.