The Scottish Government

New Crofting Areas

Arran, Bute, Greater and Little Cumbrae, Moray and parts of Highland not already within the seven traditional Crofting Counties are to be designated as new crofting areas.

This follows a public consultation in March 2008 on proposals to extend crofting tenure, and aligns the crofting counties with the area covered by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE).

At present, crofting is unique to Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross-shire, Inverness-shire and Argyll.

Section 3A (1) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 (inserted by the 2007 Act) allows Scottish Ministers to designate new areas in Scotland where crofts can be created, with the approval of the Crofters Commission. Landowners can apply to the Commission to create new crofts.

• Consultation on designation of new areas for crofting, including responses received
• News release announcing Government response - October 6, 2008

Maps of the new areas to be designated later in 2009:

• Arran and Cumbrae - new crofting areas map
• Nairn & Moray - new crofting areas map