Land Reform in Review: where are we now?

Land Reform in Review: where are we now?
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This is a past event

Last August, a panel of legal experts met at the University of Aberdeen to consider the Final Report of the Land Reform Review Group, “The Land of Scotland and the Common Good”.

Much has happened since then. The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 received Royal Assent on 24 July 2015, whilst the much publicised Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was unveiled by the Scottish Parliament just before the beginning of its summer recess. That bill contains proposals for transparency of landownership, fiscal reform for the treatment of shooting estates, and measures relating to agricultural holdings (drawing on the work of the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review Group), to name but a few. Separately, there are proposals for reforming the law of succession and the residential landlord and tenant sector, meaning land reform is as topical as ever.

The session will be chaired by Malcolm Combe from the University of Aberdeen, who was an adviser to the Land Reform Review Group.

Event Programme

Professor Roderick Paisley of the University of Aberdeen: on topical issues surrounding the regulation of renewable energy.

Hamish Lean of Stronachs LLP and a member of the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review Group: on the proposals for agricultural holdings.

Alasdair Sutherland of Terra Firma Chambers: on how the concept of sustainable development interacts with Scottish land reform measures.

Dr. Douglas Bain of the University of Aberdeen and Catherine Bury of Ledingham Chalmers: on residential leasing.

Malcolm Combe: on the environmental implications of redistributive land reform.

Robert Sutherland of Terra Firma Chambers, a recognised expert in agricultural and rural affairs, will also contribute to proceedings.

The event is free and will be followed by a short reception. To assist with arrangements for refreshments, please email Suzi Warren at smjwarren@abdn.ac.uk to secure your place.

Hosted by: School of Law

Venue: Old Senate Room (adjacent to the King’s Playing Fields, off Regent Walk).