This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Rights to buy reform progress
21/05/2004
Rural and Crofting Communities could soon be free to
purchase land following the presentation of Regulations for
the Community and Crofting Community Rights to Buy.
Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson today laid a
series of Regulations in the Scottish Parliament for the
two Rights to Buy in Parts Two and Three of the Land Reform
(Scotland) Act 2003.
Changes to the draft regulations follow widespread
consultation and detailed consideration of all comments
received.
Alterations include extensions to the time limits for
claiming compensation from 28 to 90 days; descriptions of
eligible land, salmon fishing and mineral rights to be
included in ballot information and increasing the
notification of a ballot from seven to 10 days.
Allan Wilson said:
"The Rights to Buy will be a historic step forward. A
number of regulations are required to make them happen.
Last month, Parliament approved the Community Right to Buy
(Definition of Excluded Land) Order, to ensure that 441 of
the total 494 Scottish settlements, containing over 1.5
million people and covering 98.6 per cent and nearly 8
million hectares of land in Scotland, will benefit from the
Community Right to Buy - many more people than originally
envisaged.
"Today we are laying the remaining regulations which
mark yet another essential step in the Executive's
commitment to bringing forward radical Land Reform measures
to encourage communities throughout rural Scotland to
determine their own future.
"Parliament has already accepted the ethos of the Rights
to Buy in passing the Land Reform Act. The Executive has
delivered. It is now for Parliament to make these rights
available to the people of Scotland.
"The Rights to Buy should empower rural communities to
take responsibility for their long term sustainable
development.
"The Scottish Executive is committed to improving the
prosperity and quality of life in rural Scotland. The
Rights to Buy are integral to the Land Reform Act and an
important strand in the wider land reform agenda and in
delivering our commitment to rural Scotland."
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act was passed by the
Scottish Parliament on January 23 and received Royal Assent
on February 23 last year.
The Community Right to Buy in Part Two 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.
The Crofting Community Right to Buy in Part Three allows
crofting communities to buy croft land at any time.
The Community Right to Buy (Definition of Excluded Land)
Order defines land which is excluded from the Right to Buy,
thereby defining rural land for the purposes of the
Community Right to Buy.
The draft regulations covering Part Two were subject
to consultation from August 19 to November 14, 2003, and
consultation on the Part Three regulations ran
from December 16, 2003, to March 9, 2004.
The regulations laid today, all of which are subject to
negative resolution, are:-
The Community Right to Buy (Ballot) (Scotland)
Regulations
The Community Right to Buy (Compensation) (Scotland)
Regulations
The Community Right to Buy (Forms) (Scotland)
Regulations
The Community Right to Buy (Specification of Plans)
(Scotland) Regulations
The Community Right to Buy (Register of Community
Interests in Land Charges) (Scotland) Regulations
The Crofting Community Right to Buy (Grants Towards
Compensation Liability) (Scotland) Regulations
The Crofting Community Right to Buy (Compensation)
(Scotland) Order
The Crofting Community Right to Buy (Ballot)
(Scotland) Regulations
The Crofting Community Body Form of Application to
Buy Croft Land etc. and Notice of Minister's Decision
(Scotland) Regulations