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Community Engagement

The Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS) sets out that “There should be meaningful collaboration and community engagement in decisions about land”. Communities can reasonably expect to be engaged in decisions about land that are likely to have an impact on them and their local area.

Our LRRS protocol on Community Engagement in Decisions Relating to Land offers practical advice for landowners and land managers on how they can engage with and involve communities in decisions about land use and management. We encourage everyone to approach engagement with a spirit of respect and understanding, that considers mutual interests in a fair and reasonable way.

We have created a route map that supports the protocol and sets out the different kinds of engagement that should be carried out, taking into account the likely impact of the decision being made. The documents together could form the basis of a framework for community engagement, supported by all parties.  

It is good practice for landowners and communities to collaborate to develop a proactive engagement plan for decisions relating to land. We have published an engagement planning template and a worked example template to support this. These are helpful for assessing the appropriate level of engagement depending on the activities taking place.

For those looking for more information about land or about their local communities, we have produced two guides: The first one, Information about communities: a guide for landowners, is designed to support landowners and managers who are looking for information about their local community and organisations that support communities. The second, Information about land: a guide for communities, is aimed at communities and individuals who are looking for information about land (and buildings) in Scotland.

Community engagement is important to consider when thinking about the benefits that land ownership, use and management can deliver. We recommend you check out our guidance, Delivering Community Benefits from Land.

Case studies, highlighting examples of good practice in community engagement can be found further down this page or by visiting our resource page and using the filters at the top of the page. 

Case Studies

Savills involvement in Community Engagement

Savills established a way to work with land owners and managers, new to the concepts and processes around engagement, to deliver it effectively making use of the Commission's Protocols and Route Map.

link to Savills involvement in Community Engagement case study

Community Engagement at Glen Dye Moor

At Glen Dye Moor, forestry investors have brought together a delivery team that is committed to achieving good practice in community engagement alongside good stewardship of land, as well as delivering further community benefits.

link to Community Engagement at Glen Dye Moor case study

RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve

A long-term vision is being developed to transform RSPB Insh Marshes into a prime example of a better-connected floodplain and less modified river system

link to RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve case study

Findrassie Master-planned Neighbourhood, Elgin

For the Findrassie master-planned development, Pitgaveny Estate has taken a longer-term, strategic approach to create a new neighbourhood in collaboration with the community, Moray Council and other key stakeholders.

link to Findrassie Master-planned Neighbourhood, Elgin case study

Timber Eiggxport

Community landowners Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust have worked with Scottish Forestry to design a Forest Plan which includes a phased programme of harvesting over 20 years to make sustainable use of the forest.

link to Timber Eiggxport case study

Timber Transport Forum – Developing consultation and engagement guidance

The Timber Transport Forum was one of the first sectors to develop its own guidance on engaging communities in decisions relating to land, as recommended by Scottish Government.

link to Timber Transport Forum – Developing consultation and engagement guidance case study

Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn – Galson Estate Trust

Established in 2007 to manage the Galson Estate on the Isle of Lewis for and on behalf of the community.

link to Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn – Galson Estate Trust case study

Cumbernauld Living Landscapes Partnership – Natural Connections

A living landscape partnership approach to bring different landowners together to develop volunteer-led conservation

link to Cumbernauld Living Landscapes Partnership – Natural Connections case study

East Neuk Community Action Plan

East Neuk Community Action Plan is an aspirational initiative to develop a long term vision and strategy for East Neuk area of Fife

link to East Neuk Community Action Plan case study

Community Engagement publications

  • Good Practice

Community Engagement Survey Results 2022

The results of the Community Engagement Surveys carried out in 2022.

588.34 KB

  • Good Practice

Information Map - Info for Land Owners

325.31 KB

  • Good Practice

Information Map - Info for Communities

336.79 KB

  • Good Practice

FAQs on Community Engagement in Land Use Decision-Making Protocol

170.64 KB

  • Good Practice

Community Engagement in Land-Use Decision Making Land Agent Training: Benefits of Community Engagement Table

183.40 KB

  • Good Practice

Community Engagement in Land-Use Decision Making Useful Resources

187.76 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Housing & Development

Support for Community Engagement

444.06 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Housing & Development

Opportunities for public involvement in the Scottish planning system

147.90 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Housing & Development

The Value of Early Engagement in Planning Report Summary

425.45 KB

  • Good Practice
  • Housing & Development

The Value of Early Engagement in Planning

2.34 MB

  • Good Practice

Community Engagement Baseline Surveys Report 2019

303.34 KB

  • Good Practice

A Route Map - Community Engagement in Decisions Relating to Land

294.63 KB

  • Good Practice

SURF Report - Land and Communities: Beyond the Echo Chambers

This report is the result of a collaboration between Scotland’s Regeneration Forum (SURF) and the Scottish Land Commission (SLC) to consider the practical potential for realising the Scottish Government’s vision of a strong and dynamic relationship between Scotland’s land and its people. In particular, the Commission sought to engage SURF’s experience and networks to explore assets and challenges; and varied partner perspectives in the interlinked complexity of the urban context.

1.19 MB

  • Good Practice

Young Scot report - Young People and their Local Urban Areas

Young Scot and Scottish Land Commission established a partnership to explore how young people understand, perceive and have a connection with their local urban areas. This partnership used a co-design approach to explore insights from a broad range of young people about land and buildings in cities and towns.

1.98 MB

  • Good Practice

Recommendations to Scottish Government on the consultation on guidance for engaging communities in decisions relating to land

The Scottish Land Commission has reviewed the likely impact and effectiveness of the guidance on engaging communities in decisions relating to land as contained in the consultation in relation to what we understand to be its intended outcomes, and has offered recommendations to Scottish Ministers.

184.37 KB

  • Good Practice

A Protocol - Community Engagement in Decisions Relating to Land

319.14 KB

  • Good Practice

Developing an Engagement Plan for Decisions Relating to Land - Practice Guide - Annex 2 - Engagement Planning Template

154.47 KB

  • Good Practice

Developing an Engagement Plan for Decisions Relating to Land - Practice Guide - Annex 1 - Engagement Planning Matrix

176.76 KB

  • Good Practice

Developing an Engagement Plan for Decisions Relating to Land - Practice Guide

521.02 KB