Scotland has a proud history of community ownership starting in 1923 with the Stornoway Trust. Today, Community Land Scotland report that more than 500 communities in Scotland have taken ownership of land and buildings and account for more than 200,000 hectares of community owned land.
As of 2023, there were 840 assets in community ownership, and the Scottish Land Commission's (SLC) recent report - Next Steps for Community Ownership in Scotland (July 2026) - highlights the continuing growth of community ownership of property across Scotland while recognising that communities still face significant legal, financial and practical barriers when seeking to acquire land and buildings.
Scotland's Community Ownership Framework
Over the past two decades, Scotland has introduced a series of legislative measures designed to empower communities to acquire and manage land and property, and the SLC seek to set out how the full potential of community ownership can be unlocked.
Existing Legislation
Legal rights were granted to community bodies through the Community Empowerment Act in 2015 and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, introducing the rights to:
Take ownership of land and assets
Make asset transfer requests of local authorities, Scottish Ministers and public bodies; and
Engage in decisions relating to land.
New Legislation - Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026
The SLC’s report also references the recently enacted Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026.
The 2026 Act requires local authorities and relevant public bodies to prepare Community Wealth Building Action Plans. One of its core pillars is Land and Property, recognising that increasing community ownership can generate long-term social, economic and environmental benefits while strengthening local anchor organisations. It is yet to be seen how this will work in practice and support the objectives of community ownership.
Funding Challenges
While the Scottish Land Fund continues to play a central role in supporting acquisitions, the report concludes that many communities struggle once ownership has been secured.
Funding for ongoing maintenance, refurbishment and development of acquired assets is considerably more limited than funding for acquisition itself.
To address this, the Scottish Land Commission recommends:
Exploring a long-term, low-interest "patient capital" loan fund for larger acquisitions;
Reviewing post-acquisition funding opportunities;
Considering a greater role for the Scottish National Investment Bank in supporting community assets; and
Expanding financial support beyond initial purchase costs.
Solutions
The Scottish Government has recently reviewed Community Rights to Buy and Ministers are now urged by the SLC to implement the report’s proposals as a priority.
The recommendations seek to simplify registration processes, improve awareness among communities and make statutory rights easier to exercise in practice.
What matters most – ownership or control?
Importantly, the report recognises that outright ownership is not always the most appropriate solution.
In many cases, concessionary leases, management agreements, shared ownership structures or temporary ("meanwhile") use arrangements may better meet a community's objectives.
The Commission recommends increased support and funding for these alternative models, allowing communities greater flexibility when bringing underused assets back into productive use long term.
What Does This Mean for Landowners and Public Bodies?
Although much of the report is directed at Scottish Government and public authorities, it is also relevant to private landowners, developers and investors.
The recommendations indicate that Scotland's policy direction continues to favour greater community participation in land ownership and management.
For landowners considering disposal of assets, and for communities seeking to acquire land or buildings, understanding the evolving statutory framework is becoming increasingly important.
Looking Ahead
The report concludes that community ownership has become an established feature of Scotland's land reform landscape. However, achieving the Scottish Government's ambitions will require not only continued legislative support but also improved funding, clearer processes and stronger collaboration between communities, public bodies and professional advisers.
As Scotland continues to develop its land reform agenda, further legislative change is likely to build upon the existing framework and successes of community ownership.
