Scottish Land Commission to be established by next April

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has outlined a number of priorities including the creation of a land commission next year.

Speaking in a parliamentary debate, Ms Cunningham highlighted key actions she will take, including: a review wildlife crime prevention; a consultation on a public register of controlling interests in land in early summer and the establishment of the Scottish Land Commission by 1 April 2017, as provided for by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.

She said: “Our land, our air, our seas, our climate, our flora and our fauna - there can be no doubt that our stunning natural environment is one of Scotland’s most precious assets. How we own, manage, control, conserve, promote, support and develop all of these individually and collectively matter hugely to this government’s ambitions for our country.

“On land reform, our new act seeks to transform our relationship with the land while helping to create a Fairer Scotland. We will introduce a mandatory public register of landowners’ controlling interests and I can announce today that the consultation will begin in early summer.

“I feel hugely privileged to be leading the government’s work to develop the idea of the environment as a public good that we need to protect and grow.”