1. Executive summary
Across Scotland, community owned assets are delivering vital local services and developments, including housing, employment and renewable energy. At the same time, community ownership is contributing to national priorities such as community wealth building and sustainable land management.
Scotland has a range of enabling legislation and mechanisms to empower communities to acquire land and buildings. This has influenced ways of working and a shift in culture, making the transfer of assets to communities without the need for legislation an alternative route for acquisition.
However, legislative mechanisms are not always sufficiently agile or flexible enough to support communities, and those in the sector report facing sometimes complex, lengthy and resource-intensive processes. The recent Scottish Government review of Community Right to Buy aims to address such barriers and strengthen the process. The review is a positive step in strengthening routes to community ownership and the findings of the review should be taken forward.
This report complements the review and considers the wider system and support for community ownership. It builds on evidence and insights gathered through a review of existing evidence and interviews with sector experts and community groups. Key findings include that there is a continuing demand for community ownership and that the Scottish Land Fund is a cornerstone for community ownership. There are persistent challenges relating to funding, acquisition processes, governance, and access to specialist support. The report concludes with practical actions that if collectively taken forward helps all parties create a more accessible, equitable and effective system for community ownership.
