Scotland could unlock major benefits for communities, public services and the economy by modernising how it collects and uses land information, according to new research published by the Scottish Land Commission.
The report — which examines land data systems in Finland, Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scotland — finds that countries investing in modern, connected digital systems are making faster, better-informed decisions on everything from housing and infrastructure to taxation and climate policy. The research, produced by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), suggests Scotland has a real opportunity to do the same by building on what it already has.
Many countries have moved beyond traditional land registers to create integrated digital systems that bring together legal ownership, mapping, valuation and land use data in one place. This gives governments a much clearer picture of how land is being used — and by whom — making it easier to plan for the future and respond to changing priorities.
The research identifies complete, high-quality data as the foundation of an effective system. It also highlights the benefits of connecting existing public datasets, allowing information to be shared more easily between organisations, reducing duplication and creating a stronger evidence base for policy.
Estonia is highlighted as a leading example, demonstrating how real-time data sharing between government systems can improve efficiency while making it easier to respond to changing policy priorities.
Beyond improving transparency, the report suggests modern land information systems can help governments better understand the impacts of policy, support public services and make more effective long-term decisions.
The findings build on previous Scottish Land Commission research into international approaches to land valuation and taxation, providing further evidence to help inform the future development of Scotland's land information infrastructure.
Kathie Pollard, Head of Policy at the Scottish Land Commission, said:
"When we have a clearer picture of how land is owned, used and valued, we can make better decisions that benefit people, communities and the economy.
"This research isn't about copying another country's system. It's about understanding what works elsewhere and identifying practical ways Scotland can build on the systems and information it already has to help underpin Scotland's future public policy ambitions."
The report identifies several opportunities for Scotland to build on its existing systems, including improving how different datasets work together, expanding the information linked to land records and making greater use of digital technology to test and model future policy options.
It concludes that continued investment in land information and tax administration could deliver significant long-term benefits, creating a more efficient, transparent and evidence-based system for the future.
The full report is available on the Scottish Land Commission website.
