…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
As readers may be aware, I run the Who Owns Scotland project. It documents the ownership of over 76% of rural Scotland. The information is updated annually and where there is a change I often need to order a deed
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As readers of Land Matters are aware, I take a close interest in the changing face of landownership and the issues that arise from it. Scotland’s land market has been in place for centuries and the underlying dynamics of who
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Today I am publishing a report analysing large-scale (over 500 ha) sales of rural land in 2023. This follows a previous report covering 2020 – 2022. During 2023, 17 landholdings of over 500 ha changed hands together with 20 landholdings
Continue readingI like listening to the growing number of podcasts covering a wide range of topics. A particular favourite at the moment is the remarkable story of the diary that was at the centre of the controversy over the sinking of
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This is the third in a series of blogs analysing the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill 2024. In this blog I want to begin an analysis of the impact of the intervention powers (Sections 2 and 4) in the Bill by
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Today, I publish a report analysing large-scale land sales or rural land during 2020 – 2022. The analysis is my contribution to ongoing efforts to better understand the land market and is derived from date collected as part of the
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Today, the STUC has published an open letter to Scotland’s political parties urging them to revalue Scotland’s domestic property in order to provide an accurate tax base for the Council Tax which is still based on property valuations from 1991.
Continue readingImage: Commission on Local Tax Reform. Oral Evidence Session 2 Today, the Commission on Local Tax Reform held its second oral evidence session. I am member of the Commission representing the Scottish Green Party. The event was streamed live and
Continue readingGuest Blog by Fred Harrison, Land Research Trust. Austerity has caused deep anguish for people across Europe. They did not cause the depression that followed the financial crisis of 2008, but they are paying the price. Scotland’s government has announced its determination
Continue readingThe Scottish Government has announced the remit and membership of the Commission on Local Tax reform. I am very pleased to have been nominated as a member of the Commission on Local Tax Reform and look forward to meeting the other
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