Scottish Crown Estate

Plans to reform the Scottish Crown Estate, and give local communities more control of its assets, has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Crown Estate Bill will establish a framework for changes in the management of Scottish Crown Estate assets and give communities a stronger voice in how these assets are managed.

This will include opportunities for councils and communities to directly manage Scottish Crown Estate assets.  The total capital value of the Scottish Crown Estate assets is £275.7m and the approximate gross annual revenue is £15m.

Introducing the Bill, Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said it represented a significant milestone in the process of enabling the transfer of the management of the Scottish Crown Estate assets to local communities on a case-by-case basis.

Ms Cunningham said:

“This is a significant moment for Scotland and is the first ever Bill on the Scottish Crown Estate. Building on the work of the Smith Commission, this Bill proposes, for the first time, new powers for Scottish Ministers to change who manages Scottish Crown Estate assets, and opens up the possibility of local authorities and communities taking control of the management of those assets.

“The Estate consists of a diverse portfolio, including thousands of hectares of rural land, half of Scotland’s foreshore, urban property and seabed leasing rights for activities such as renewable energy. That is why this Bill recognises that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not practical, laying the foundation for changes in the management of individual assets.

“I believe strongly in maximising the benefits of the Crown Estate for our communities and the country as a whole, while ensuring assets are well maintained and managed, with high standards of openness and accountability.

“That’s why  I have put these principles at the very heart of this important Bill.”