Tuesday 11 April 2017

Scottish Government takes Crown Estate powers

Powers over Scotland's Crown Estate have been officially given to the Scottish Government.

The transfer of control over the revenue and management of the multi-million pound assets is expected to give local communities a stronger voice in how Scotland's resources are used.

Scottish Ministers now have control over thousands of hectares of rural land and approximately half of the country's foreshore.

They will also be able to lease the seabed for rights to renewable energy.

Ministers are now finalising a long term strategy for the land - it is expected to directly involve Scottish citizens as part of the decision making processes.

The Crown Estate's assets were worth £271.8 million in 2015/16 and generated a gross annual revenue of £14 million.

Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham recently said: "This is a historic day.

"The management and resources of the Crown Estate now rest with the people of Scotland and we have a genuine, once in a lifetime opportunity to use them to change the fabric of Scottish society, placing the needs of local and coastal communities at the centre of our long term planning for these considerable assets."