…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
Scottish Ministers gave notice on Wednesday 11 August of their refusal to consent to the application by the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company to acquire the redundant Machrihanish airbase in Argyll. In a long and detailed Refusal Notice, Ministers explain their
Continue readingFollowing the confirmation by the Treasury Committee that the Crown Estate Commissioners (CEC) do not own the seabed around Scotland (Scotland has always owned the seabed though it is “administered” and “managed” by the CEC), a key question arises –
Continue readingInteresting announcement today [broken link – Nov 2023] by the English Housing and Planning Minister, John Healey. He proposes that Parish Councils be given powers to build affordable housing by extending the scope of permitted development rights. Individual planning applications
Continue readingThe Scottish Government has just published its consultation paper [broken link – Nov 2023] on legislation to reform long leases and allows for their conversion into full ownership. This follows up the Scottish Law Commission’s Conversion of Long Leases report
Continue readingThe Treasury Select Committee today published the report of its inquiry into the management of the Crown Estate. This represents an important stage in the ongoing debate about the future of the Crown Estate Commission and I have prepared a
Continue readingThere’s a conference in Inverness today about the community right to buy. I should probably be there but I can’t afford to take a day off work, the train ticket is over £40 and I’m kinda skint right now. The
Continue readingForgive me for continuing this thread on Scotland’s seabed but I’ve just caught sight of an interview on 16th March with Alex Salmond about Scotland’s marine renewables potential. Now I think that the progress made with marine renewables is very
Continue readingIn an article about marine energey in the Sunday Times business section titled “Alex Salmond’s bid to rule the waves”, Jane Bradley writes the following. According to Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, this is the first step in a plan
Continue readingA comment on Joan McAlpine’s blog (1) about the Crown Estate asks a good question – are crown estate matters not reserved? This is the source of much confusion. The Crown Estate Commission is reserved as are most Crown revenues.
Continue readingThe Crown Estate Commission plays a strange role in the administration of parts of Scotland. I recently submitted evidence to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on the topic and today, had a letter published in the Herald newspaper
Continue reading