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Understanding Scotland’s rural land market at the Royal Highland Show

Land Market Panel

🕒 Arrive from 3.00pm
🎤 Panel starts at 3.30pm
📍 SRUC stand (upstairs)
☕ Refreshments on arrival

We’re launching our fourth annual Rural Land Market Insights Report, sharing what the latest research tells us about how Scotland’s rural land market is changing, and what that means for policy and practice. Join us for a presentation of the findings and a panel discussion with expert sector voices.

Dr Ian Merrell will share the key findings from this year's report with printed copies of the report and briefing available to take away.

Meet the panellists:

Professor Deb Roberts (Chair) - James Hutton Institute and SLC

Professor Deb Roberts is Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Science at the James Hutton Institute. Deb trained as an agricultural economist and, prior to moving into her current position, her research focussed on understanding how agricultural and environmental policies affect economic development and social wellbeing in rural areas. 

Professor Steven Thomson - SRUC, Professor in Agricultural Economics and Policy

Steven is a Professor in Agricultural Economics and Policy with 30 years of applied agricultural policy analysis and rural development research.  Steven is heavily involved in supporting the Scottish Government design future fit agricultural policy and build on the principles of conditional direct support.

Debbie MacKay - Savills, Head of Planning

Head of Scottish Residential and Rural Planning, Debbie has over 25 years experience advising on planning projects for the residential and rural sectors. Debbie's work covers large scale master planning projects, renewable energy schemes, strategic planning reviews and all forms of planning submissions.

Jason Beedell - Strutt & Parker, Director - Rural Research

Jason heads Strutt & Parker’s rural research and supports the firm’s rural team with information and analysis on farming, land management, planning, environment, energy, forestry and rural capital markets. He is a nationally recognised commentator on rural issues, particularly rural property markets and agricultural policy reform.

Sarah Longsland - Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Chief Executive

Sarah is an expert in regional and local economic development and argues for economic and social justice and the creation of places which enable people to live good lives. Before joining CLES in 2021, Sarah was Director of IPPR North, the dedicated think tank for the North of England and began her career in local government, working in County Durham and North Yorkshire.  She has a PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Glasgow.