Key Points

This annual publication provides summary statistics for 2023 of assets owned by community groups in Scotland. It is usually published in the autumn of the following year the statistics refer to.

Community Ownership in Scotland 2023: Land, Buildings and Other Assets Owned by Community Groups

At December 2023:

• There were 840 assets in community ownership in Scotland, an increase of 26 (3%) from 814 in 2022. These are owned by 533 groups.
• Most assets in community ownership are land and/or buildings. These cover an area of 208,597 hectares, which is 2.7% of the total land area of Scotland.
• Na h-Eileanan Siar contains 153,717 hectares of community owned land, 74% of the total land area in community ownership.
• The Highland and Argyll and Bute local authorities together contain 306 assets, therefore making up 36% of all assets in community ownership.
• There are 28 assets which are not land and/or buildings. These include a ferry, a small boat, a pontoon for berthing watercraft, a single car transporter and salmon fishing rights for a river.
• Community groups paid just under £1.9 million for the 26 assets acquired in 2023.
• Almost 80% of community owned assets are in rural areas of Scotland and these assets make up over 99% of the land area in community ownership.