Kathie Pollard

Interesting and clear discussion about land value taxation. Modernising the land tax system needs to address a key practical issues. Our new 5 year route-map sets out a way forward: www.landcommission.gov.scot/news/five-ye...

Just over a week left to apply 📢 The Scottish Government is looking for a contractor to undertake research into compensation for land acquired through compulsory purchase. 📅 Deadline: 12 noon, 2 October Find out more and apply: buff.ly/XIshc6L

Planning permission and land ownership are closely connected, but not always in the ways you might expect. In our latest guest blog, Anne Krippler from Planning Aid Scotland clears up some common confusion around land ownership, planning permission and access. Read Anne's blog: buff.ly/5m6rK1h

Scotland has the opportunity to change the way we design and administer tax land and property to open up more tax options. @scottishlandcom.bsky.social has set out a practical five-year route-map for putting in place the foundations to do that. www.landcommission.gov.scot/news/five-ye...

Revenue Scotland welcomes the Scottish Land Commission’s report on a five-year route to modernising land tax administration. Read more: www.landcommission.gov.scot/news/five-ye...

Scotland has the opportunity to change the way we design and administer tax land and property to open up more tax options. Today we’ve published a practical five-year route-map setting out the foundations needed to do that. Read the five-year route-map: buff.ly/UDyir0a

Our newsletter is coming back with an edition focusing on land and tax. We’ll look at our latest work on how tax could support economic development, land reform, town centre regeneration and reducing emissions from land. 📩 Sign up to get it straight to your inbox: buff.ly/BoddFTf

In which I share emerging results from research on the longer term effects of community landownership, including timescales, power dynanamics, land attachment, etc.

Long-term derelict land represents a major opportunity. These sites could provide homes, jobs, green space and support wider regeneration. Our latest research explores how tax policy could play a more strategic role alongside other measures to help bring more of them back into use. buff.ly/3FFGYk7

Uwe Stoneman shares what years of supporting communities and landowners has taught us about managing change around land. buff.ly/vzNPfgu

Our Community Benefits from Nature Adviser Annabel Davidson Knight joined the Green Finance Institute podcast to discuss the human side of natural capital. In this clip, she explains the important distinction between community engagement and community benefits. 🎧 buff.ly/tDAaeFK

What does the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 mean for forestry? James MacKessack-Leitch, explores how the new legislation could shape investment, community engagement and woodland management in this article. Shared with permission of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS). buff.ly/5BgvPhX

What's next for community ownership in Scotland? We're bringing together the experts behind some of the latest research and policy advice to explore where community ownership goes from here—and answer your questions in a live Q&A. 📅 20 August | 12–1pm 🎟️ Free to attend: buff.ly/PaxMPHI

What role does tax play in tackling derelict land? Our latest tax report looks at the regeneration context.

New advice setting out practical steps to expand community ownership across Scotland and help more communities benefit from owning local land and assets has been published today.

We're growing our team! Community Land Scotland is recruiting for two new roles as part of our ambitious Inclusive Ownership project, a UK-wide partnership working to make community ownership of land and buildings more accessible.

Better use of land information could strengthen public services. The latest @scottishlandcom.bsky.social @srucnews.bsky.social report via @scottishhousingnews.com www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/bet...

NEW report on what we can learn about land information systems for transparency, tax and valuation

How do you value land – and why does it matter for reform?

Scotland’s rural land market is becoming more cautious and selective, according to our new Rural Land Market Report 2026, produced with SRUC. After years of rapid growth, activity slowed across most sectors with buyers taking more time and looking more closely at long-term returns. buff.ly/ipqieB4

Very pleased that @gillianamartin.bsky.social, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action & Rural Affairs came to #Langholm yesterday to meet with the Board & Senior Staff of the @scottishlandcom.bsky.social and the @tarrasvalleynr.bsky.social #LandReform #Communityownership

Thanks for the opportunity to talk about our latest policy advice @oxfamscotland.bsky.social

Out now: the seventh in the BEFS Joining the Dots series ✍️ In this new blog, Katherine Pollard of the Scottish Land Commission explores how land reform connects to housing, high streets, retrofit and community empowerment. Take a look:

The key takeaway: better land data and modern systems are essential if tax is to play a more strategic role in land and environmental policy. 👉 buff.ly/28hiGt6

A carbon land tax on peatland faces practical challenges right now, including: ⏺️ Measuring emissions at landholding level ⏺️ Gaps in land ownership & land condition data ⏺️ Limited land valuation and information systems

New advice from the Scottish Land Commission highlights how tax could support climate action and land reform — but also the practical challenges of introducing a peatland carbon tax. 🧵

But a simple #Scottish #land #use publication is not enough: look at these delicious storymaps fascinating and interactive! storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/45b9...

RESAS has published the supporting evidence pack for the 4th #Land Use Strategy for #Scotland. Loads and loads of analysis to feast on in relation to land use, cover, ecosystem services, ownership, tenure. An awful lot of @hutton.ac.uk maps in there too! www.gov.scot/publications...

Thanks @thebefs.bsky.social for the opportunity to write about why land reform matters to the future of urban Scotland @scottishlandcom.bsky.social www.befs.org.uk/latest/joini...

Exciting next steps for land reform! From land use planning, data and tax- there is a lot more to be done to create certainty, stability and open up our land system

New article on passing of #Communitywealthbuilding legislation in Scotland. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/21/c...

How do you value land – and why does it matter for reform? In our latest guest blog, Dr Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins unpacks why land valuation is harder than it looks, drawing on recent discussions in Wales and reflecting on what this means for tax and land reform across the UK. buff.ly/6tfFfI3

Looking forward to speaking about our @scottishlandcom.bsky.social work with @adriennebuller.bsky.social @lmacfarlane.bsky.social

We know inboxes can get busy, so we keep our emails focused and useful. 📆 By sign up to our mailing list you will receive our bi-monthly newsletter with the latest news, events, research and stories from across Scotland’s land sector - no spam, just clear, timely updates. buff.ly/d2WiqxL

New insights from the Rural Land Market Data Report 2025 show forestry land values cooling, small-scale sales dominating, strong per-hectare farmland prices and ongoing data challenges for land transparency. buff.ly/tosofVq

Excellent series (and reference to the housing theory of everything) @vickyspratt.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/serie...

When it’s developers v people, usually the money wins. I saw how one community came out on top | Jason Okundaye

Why land reform matters more than ever

A new report from the Scottish Land Commission shows how lessons from around the world could help Scotland modernise the way it values land and property, strengthening the foundation for fairer taxation to support sustainable public finances, and action on climate change.

Concentrated ownership, absentee landlords and a lack of transparency in how land is managed are some of the concerns the public has over land in Scotland, according to a new report published by the Scottish Land Commission. 

Enjoyed this round-up and debates about the council tax surcharge: a gateway to something else or failure to be bolder with revaluation? Some interesting ideas around the policy aims of EV tax, too.

Thank you to everyone who took part in our ScotLand Futures survey. More than 1,200 people shared their views, and 96% told us Scotland still needs further action on land reform 👇 buff.ly/tSiMkVO

The power of investing in place-based collaboration.. Great also to see the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme play its part in Govan’s regeneration journey (set up in response to the @scottishlandcom.bsky.social’s Vacant & Derelict Land Taskforce advice).

We’re pleased to welcome Sarah Madden & Kathie Pollard to senior roles helping drive Scotland’s land reform agenda at a pivotal time. Sarah becomes Head of Practice and Advice, and Kathie steps into Head of Policy. buff.ly/ORrXIyc

🌍 New SEFARI Gateway Fellowship Opportunity - Exploring the Future of Community Land Ownership in Scotland.