While climate targets have introduced a new urgency to changing land use, chief executive Hamish Trench said Covid-19 has significantly changed the context.

Mr Trench said: “Scotland’s net zero climate targets depend on land use. On top of that now is the need to ensure Scotland’s post-Covid economic recovery is inclusive and that we make the most of our land, for the benefit of everyone.

“It is now even more important that the partnerships should strengthen the way land use supports regional economic resilience, economic recovery and renewal.

“The proposed partnerships represent significant opportunity to increase momentum and deliver change at the pace and scale needed to meet these challenges.” 

The commission has made four main recommendations to ministers, calling on them to:

• Use the partnerships to drive a collaborative approach to land use decision making in the public interest and to prioritise and target delivery of public funding to achieve land use objectives
• Set up around 12-15 Partnerships covering all of Scotland, connecting urban and rural Scotland based on the geography of planning authorities
• Ensure the partnerships comprise an appointed board so as to be accountable and sufficiently independent
• Establish the first partnerships in 2021 to test approaches and ensure partnerships are operational across all of Scotland ahead of the next Climate Change Plan (2023-2024) to meet the urgency of climate change targets.

Land reform secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am grateful to the Scottish Land Commission for their advice on the establishment of regional land use partnerships. The proposals represent a strong starting point as we continue to develop our approach to land use in support of Scotland’s green recovery and our transition to becoming a net-zero society.

“The development of regional land use partnerships presents a real opportunity to deliver land use change. It is important that government, land owners, stakeholders and local communities work together to ensure a fair and inclusive approach to these partnerships, making sure they meet local priorities whilst also supporting our national endeavour to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change. We will now take forward work to build on the SLC advice, and hope to announce the pilot areas in the near future.”