Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 - relinquishment and assignation provisions: islands community impact assessment

Intended outcomes of the 2016 Act and these accompanying SSIs

Through the implementation of the 2016 Act and these accompanying three SSIs, this policy contributes to the Scottish Government’s aim of ensuring a vibrant future for the tenanted agricultural sector.  This vision is one of dynamism, vibrancy and sustainability, and it is part of the wider Scottish Government economic and land use strategies.

This vision recognises the role that tenant farmers and their landlords play in the cultural and social well-being of our rural island communities and also supports the aims of Scotland’s Islands National Plan by: “increasing populations levels”; helping to “improve and promote health and wellbeing” and “improving and promoting sustainable economic development”.

The provisions not only enable secure 1991 Act tenant farmers with no assignees or successors to retire from their business, but also allow a new entrant or progressing farmer to take on the secure 1991 Act agricultural tenancy.  This approach encourages the continuation of tenant farming in that local area and gives a young person or a person progressing in agriculture an opportunity to farm and stay within their rural or island community.

The policy has potential to have a small positive effect upon island communities where traditionally young people have left the islands to pursue their agricultural careers on mainland Scotland due to a lack of available land.  It could also enable a small number of people progressing in the industry to consolidate their businesses by: expanding their farming land; and supporting the creation of stronger and more sustainable island businesses.