Research and reports

Land supply for housing in rural Scotland

This research report focuses specifically on the role of land in, and to make practical recommendations for, increasing the supply of new homes (of all tenures) across rural Scotland.

Summary: Land supply for rural housing proposal

The Land supply for rural housing proposal draws on findings from new research, commissioned by the Scottish Land Commission and conducted by the University of Glasgow, which reviewed practical steps to create a long-term land supply for rural housing in Scotland.

Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland

Response from the Scottish Land Commission to the Compulsory Purchase Reform in Scotland consultation.

Consultation: The Future of Council Tax in Scotland

Response from the Scottish Land Commission to the Consultation on the future of Council Tax in Scotland.

Àm ri Teachd Na H-Alba - Na Chuala Sinn: Gairm nàiseanta airson atharrachadh

This is a Gaelic summary capturing the main themes and ideas people shared through ScotLand Futures and reflects, in their own words, how Scotland’s land could work more fairly and more effectively for everyone.

Land Reform Bill: Official corespondence from Scottish Government

Response from Mairi Gougeon to the Scottish Land Commission's advice on Part 1 of the Land Reform Bill.

Advice on Part 1 of the Land Reform Bill from the Scottish Land Commission

The Scottish Land Commission has proposed key changes to the Land Reform Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, so that it achieves the Scottish Government's objectives to address the impacts of concentrated land ownership.

Rural Land Market Data Report 2024

An analysis of farm, forestry and estate land transactions in Scotland in 2024.

Analysis of mechanisms and governance approaches to securing public value from natural resources

The following report brings together two phases of work commissioned by the Scottish Land Commission which has sought to identify enablers and barriers in mechanisms for natural resource management.

Research Summary: Principles for Natural Resource Governance

Research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) for the Commission looked at various governance models in Scotland and abroad, offering valuable lessons for land governance.

Summary: Key findings from the 2024 review of vacant and derelict land

In October 2020 the Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce published a series of recommendations to support productive re-use of land. This followed two years of work analysing the challenge of vacant land.

Vacant and Derelict Land Reuse: Progress Report

Ryden was appointed by the Scottish Land Commission (SLC) to report on progress with the reuse of Scotland's vacant & derelict land (VDL). Building upon the reduction of VDL as a policy priority, SLC and SEPA's VDL Taskforce were established in 2018, Ryden reported in detail on Scotland's VDL in 2019, and the Taskforce's recommendations were published in 2020.