UNESCO World Heritage Site joins Land Register via KIR

St Kilda has become the first UNESCO World Heritage Site to be added to Scotland’s land register through keeper-induced registration (KIR).

Scotland’s westernmost archipelago is one of only 32 locations worldwide to be awarded “mixed” World Heritage status for both its natural and cultural significance.

The registration includes the island of Hirta’s famous Village Street, a row of 19th century cottages that remained inhabited until 1930.

Sheenagh Adams, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS), said: “We are delighted to welcome such an important part of Scotland’s heritage and natural beauty onto the land register. This ensures that St Kilda is protected by a state-backed warranty, further securing the site for the people of Scotland.

“As a remote area of land, the work we have done on St Kilda has proven invaluable experience as we complete our KIR pilot ahead of a public consultation later this year, which will explore how KIR could be used as a tool to complete the land register.”

KIR is a new power introduced by the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012, which allows the keeper to register land and properties without an application at her discretion.

Scottish ministers have invited RoS to complete the land register by 2024, with all public land registered by 2019.

Held by the National Trust for Scotland, the registration of St Kilda is one part of the pilots the keeper has undertaken to register some of Scotland’s heritage assets, which are unlikely to enter the land register through other routes.

Land and property registered on the land register benefit from defined boundaries that are clearly recorded and shown using the Ordnance Survey map.

The register also provides an easier, faster, and less expensive way to transact with property than its predecessor, the General Register of Sasines.