The HIE Network's Community Land Unit
In partnership with our colleagues in the Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, we can provide assistance to communities to purchase and manage land and assets.
Find out more by following one or both of the above links.
Or download a copy of the Community Land Unit's 'Action Framework' document below.
The Scottish Land Fund
The Scottish Land Fund's aim is:
To contribute to sustainable development in rural Scotland by assisting communities to acquire, develop and manage local land or land assets.
The Scottish Land Fund, administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, will make £10 million available to help communities establish the feasibility, complete the purchase, and undertake the development and management of local land and land assets.
(The Scottish Land Fund has been established by the New Opportunities Fund - a National Lottery distributor.)
Scottish Land Fund objectives
- To improve opportunities and reduce disadvantage both for communities and individuals in rural areas;
- To encourage community involvement and participation in land ownership and management;
- To enhance the environmental diversity and quality of rural Scotland;
- To facilitate positive use of the land reform legislation on the community right to buy;
- To diversify the pattern of land ownership in rural Scotland.
Who can the Scottish Land Fund assist?
Both new and existing community organisations are eligible to apply. Your organisation should be legally established and enshrine the following principles;
- Objectives of community benefit
- Open membership
- Equal opportunities
- Democratic control
- Prominent role for community representatives
- Non profit distributing
- In event of dissolution, arrangements to transfer land and assets to an organisation with similar objectives
Any application for grant funding will need to demonstrate that the community is strongly represented on the constituted body, partnership or consortium. Community representatives should hold a substantial interest on that body with control resting with the people who actually live in the community.
The structure of the organisation must allow people who are normally resident in an area but who are periodically away to be voting members. Examples include students or people working outside the area.
A partnership or consortium can bid for funding under the Scottish Land Fund programme, if its constitution expressly states that the land is held for community benefit and the community representatives are the single largest constituency on the Board.
A consortium might include representatives from the local community, local authority, relevant agencies, conservation bodies and neighbouring landowners.
Three kinds of project are assisted
Planning and preparation of bids to acquire or manage land and land assets. This may include undertaking feasibility studies, legal advice, valuations, business planning and community consultation. Usually required pre-acquisition, but may also be required for land development projects.
Acquisition of land. This can involve large areas of land on which communities intend to undertake a range of management and development projects. It can also involve smaller plots of land for environmental or recreational uses, like the management of woodland, or discrete development purposes such as social housing, recreational areas, and the provision of building-based activities.
Land development projects. These can include projects to undertake land development projects - this can include investment in management of natural resources, infrastructure developments to meet local servicing needs, and the provision of facilities with clear economic and social benefits.
Who to contact for further information
Highlands and Islands Enterprise in partnership with Scottish Enterprise will administer the Scottish Land Fund. The fund's staff will be located throughout Scotland.
The Scottish Land Fund
Taigh Feàrna
Auchtertyre
Balmacara
KYLE OF LOCHALSH
IV40 8EG
Telephone: 01520 722988
Fax: 01599 566724
email: hie.general@hient.co.uk |
