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Right to buy
28/01/2008
Scotland's 60th approved registration of interest to purchase land under Community Right to Buy legislation was toasted today by Environment Minister Michael Russell.
Carty Port Community Group has secured a community interest in the former Carty Tileworks and adjacent grounds.
It hopes to turn the works, which closed in 1978, into a tourist information centre and undertake environmental improvements complete with new walkways, picnic areas and bird hides. The project aims to attract visitors to the village near Newton Stewart.
Other recent decisions have seen successful applications from community groups in Newburgh, Fife, and Salen, Ardnamurchan.
Environment Minister Michael Russell said:
"Rural communities throughout Scotland are continuing to recognise the real benefits of the community right to buy legislation. Giving communities control over the way their land is managed inspires greater power to shape their own futures, creates a strong sense of ownership and provides rights and opportunities to help them realise local ambitions.
"That we have had over 60 registrations of interest and have others in the pipeline is testament to the increasing self-confidence among communities the length and breadth of Scotland in shaping their own destinies. I am delighted that the legislation in 2008 is quickly shaping up to be as successful as in 2007 and I would encourage all communities to seriously consider the benefits and opportunities the legislation can offer."
The Salen Development Community Company (SDCC) has proceeded to the right to buy stage with their plans to buy a house, land, jetty and shop. The SDCC is currently raising the £345,000 needed to buy the land at Ardnamurchan and realise the community's ambition to secure a base for local coastguard services, create boat moorings, provide plots for affordable housing, re-open the local shop and provide other local facilities to boost tourism.
Newburgh Community Trust has already successfully purchased land at Newburgh waterfront. It has now secured a further right to buy a local reservoir to allow the community to make environmental improvements to the loch, continue fishing leases and provide boats for hire. This latest registered interest provides the community first refusal should the land come up for sale at any time in the future.
The Land Reform Act was implemented on June 14, 2004. Part two of the Act provides the opportunity for properly constituted community bodies representing rural areas in Scotland to register a community interest in and buy land when it comes to be sold. The legislation provides a right to buy registered land which will contribute to the sustainable development and well-being of the local community. Once an interest is registered, the land cannot be sold without the community's interest being taken into account.
Newburgh Community Trust and Carty Port Community Company have secured registered interests: Salen Development Community Company is proceeding with the right to buy and has until March 28, 2008 to conclude the transfer. Contact details for each community body can be viewed on the Register of Community Interests in Land.