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Case Studies

Governance & Ownership

Affric Highlands – Trees for Life

The Affric Highlands project, led by Trees for Life, is bringing together landowners and communities from across the central Highlands to support nature, people, and businesses, and create a more progressive and sustainable local economy.

link to Affric Highlands – Trees for Life case study
Housing & Development

An adventure playground for Possilpark – Concrete Garden

Concrete Garden was established in 2013 from a community growing project which transformed a small vacant and derelict site in Possilpark.

link to An adventure playground for Possilpark – Concrete Garden case study
Housing & Development

Anderston Regeneration Project

The Anderston regeneration project demonstrates the importance of an active land policy, masterplanning, intensive community engagement, and public sector funding for site assembly and delivery.

link to Anderston Regeneration Project case study
Housing & Development

Anna's Hoeve, Hilversum, The Netherlands

In this case study of Anna's Hoeve, in Hilversum, the Netherlands , we explore the capacity of Dutch planning to integrate placemaking into the delivery of new housing.

link to Anna's Hoeve, Hilversum, The Netherlands case study
Good Practice

Ardura Community Forest

Mull & Iona Community Trust (MICT) undertook a community asset transfer to acquire a publicly owned timber plantation on Mull with funds from the Scottish Land Fund.

link to Ardura Community Forest case study
Governance & Ownership

Aultnaskiach Dell Community Woodland

The owners of Aultnaskiach Dell wanted to safeguard the woods from potential development so asked locals if there was interest in a community buyout.

link to Aultnaskiach Dell Community Woodland case study
Housing & Development

Bahnhof Heubruch, Wuppertal, Germany

The Bahnhof Heubruch development in Wuppertal, Germany explores how planning helps a German city develop a high-quality residential project with affordable housing in a less prosperous economic context.

link to Bahnhof Heubruch, Wuppertal, Germany case study
Good Practice

Balcaskie Estate: Creating livelihood opportunities

Balcaskie Estate in Fife recognises the importance of creating a more diverse pattern of land ownership and tenure and is committed to ‘diversity of opportunity’.

link to Balcaskie Estate: Creating livelihood opportunities case study
Housing & Development

Baltic Street Adventure Playground, Glasgow

Creating a safe outdoor play space for children in one of Scotland’s most deprived areas, an arts and architecture-led project created the Baltic Street Adventure Playground.

link to Baltic Street Adventure Playground, Glasgow case study
Housing & Development

Bertha Park - Collaboration in masterplanning

Bertha Park demonstrates the importance of collaboration and masterplanning, and upfront finance for infrastructure to unlock development land.

link to Bertha Park - Collaboration in masterplanning case study
Good Practice

Buccleuch Langholm Moor Sale – Creating opportunities through community engagement

Through the process of identifying land that could be sold, Buccleuch became increasingly aware of the impact land-use decisions can have on nearby communities.

link to Buccleuch Langholm Moor Sale – Creating opportunities through community engagement case study
Governance & Ownership

Bunloit and Beldorney Estates – Highlands Rewilding

The Bunloit Estate in the Highlands and the Beldorney Estate in Aberdeenshire are looking at how land can be managed in new ways, using innovative investment, to deliver benefits for the environment and for local communities.

link to Bunloit and Beldorney Estates – Highlands Rewilding case study
Housing & Development

Canal and North Gateway, Glasgow

Scottish Canals and NatureScot transforming the land around the canal corridor between Firhill and Port Dundas

link to Canal and North Gateway, Glasgow case study
Housing & Development

Carluke High Mill & Community Growing & Learning Garden – Carluke Development Trust

Carluke community recognised the potential of Caruke High Mill which has been derelict for more than 20 years.

link to Carluke High Mill & Community Growing & Learning Garden – Carluke Development Trust case study
Housing & Development

Castle Gardens, Pencaitland

Castle Gardens demonstrates the importance of maintaining an up-to-date development plan and offers insights into the role of land promoters in place promotion and risk sharing.

link to Castle Gardens, Pencaitland case study
Good Practice

Community Engagement at Glen Dye Moor

At Glen Dye Moor, forestry investors have brought together a delivery team that is committed to achieving good practice in community engagement alongside good stewardship of land, as well as delivering further community benefits.

link to Community Engagement at Glen Dye Moor case study
Governance & Ownership

Culduthel Community Woods

Culduthel Woods Group is undergoing the legal process of acquiring the ownership of currently ownerless woodland in Inverness.

link to Culduthel Community Woods case study
Housing & Development

Dargavel, Renfrewshire

The Dargavel development demonstrates the importance of collaboration, masterplanning and upfront finance for infrastructure to unlock development land.

link to Dargavel, Renfrewshire case study
Tenant Farming

Examples of the eligibility of items that might be included under the Amnesty

Examples of the eligibility of items that might be included under the Amnesty

link to Examples of the eligibility of items that might be included under the Amnesty case study
Housing & Development

Former Police Box Active Travel Hub – Vale of Leven Trust

An Active Travel Hub, set up in a former police box, providing equipment and skills to help locals gain more confidence to travel more actively.

link to Former Police Box Active Travel Hub – Vale of Leven Trust case study
Housing & Development

Glasgow Commonwealth Games Village – a lasting legacy

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games Village demonstrates how a public interest led development approach and wider regenerational activities can shape a new market and place where none existed before.

link to Glasgow Commonwealth Games Village – a lasting legacy case study
Housing & Development

Highland Council – Inverness City Living

Highland Council has devised an ambitious strategy for Inverness city centre, aiming to make it an area where people live and work, with green space and active travel routes.

link to Highland Council – Inverness City Living case study
Good Practice

Holm Hill – a new dawn for Newcastleton

The negotiated sale of 750 acres of land known as Holm Hill from Buccleuch’s Borders Estate to the Newcastleton and District Community Trust (NDCT) marks an exciting future for this community in the South of Scotland.

link to Holm Hill – a new dawn for Newcastleton case study
Governance & Ownership

Issues with Inalienability: Portobello High School

The City of Edinburgh Council proposed to use Portobello Park as the site for the new Portobello High School. However the land was not designated as a possible site for a new school.

link to Issues with Inalienability: Portobello High School case study
Governance & Ownership

L’Arche de La Nature: A forest for the many

The L’Arche de la Nature municipal forest in Le Mans, France has parallels for community forestry in Scotland.

link to L’Arche de La Nature: A forest for the many case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – Scone Estates

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning by Scone Estates.

link to Land Management Planning –  Scone Estates case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – Ardtornish

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning by Ardtornish estate in Morvern, Lochaber.

link to Land Management Planning – Ardtornish case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – Buccleuch Estates

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning by Buccleuch Estates.

link to Land Management Planning – Buccleuch Estates case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – Crown Estate Scotland

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning by Crown Estate Scotland.

link to Land Management Planning – Crown Estate Scotland case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – JAHAMA Highland Estates

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning by JAHAMA Highland Estates.

link to Land Management Planning – JAHAMA Highland Estates case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – Loch Arkaig Pine Forest

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest.

link to Land Management Planning – Loch Arkaig Pine Forest case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning – Urras Oighreacht Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust)

This case study explores the approach taken to land management planning by Urras Oighreacht Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) in Lewis.

link to Land Management Planning – Urras Oighreacht Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) case study
Good Practice

Land Management Planning: John Muir Trust

This case study at the Trust's new Strategic Plan and how it balances priorities.

link to Land Management Planning: John Muir Trust case study
Good Practice

Natural Course

Natural Course is a nine-year EU LIFE Integrated Project based in northwest England that is a collaboration between public, private and third sector organisations funded by EU grant and match funding.

link to Natural Course case study
Housing & Development

Queens Park Recreation Ground, Crosshill, Glasgow

South Seeds aims to create a socially engaging sustainable hub within Govanhill - one of the most densely populated and deprived areas in Scotland.

link to Queens Park Recreation Ground, Crosshill, Glasgow case study
Housing & Development

Raining Stairs, Inverness

Redevelopment of derelict land brings affordable housing back into Inverness city centre

link to Raining Stairs, Inverness case study
Housing & Development

Re-use Hub in a long-term vacant building - New Cumnock Development Trust

New Cumnock Development Trust plan to bring an empty town centre building back into use as a viable social enterprise.

link to Re-use Hub in a long-term vacant building - New Cumnock Development Trust case study
Good Practice

RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve

A long-term vision is being developed to transform RSPB Insh Marshes into a prime example of a better-connected floodplain and less modified river system

link to RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve case study
Good Practice

Savills involvement in Community Engagement

Savills established a way to work with land owners and managers, new to the concepts and processes around engagement, to deliver it effectively making use of the Commission's Protocols and Route Map.

link to Savills involvement in Community Engagement case study
Housing & Development

Shettleston Growing Project

Shettleston Growing Project have used reclaimed contaminated land to provide an urban garden for the community

link to Shettleston Growing Project case study
Good Practice

Sleat Community Trust

Sleat Community Trust (SCT) on the Isle of Skye purchased forest from Forestry Commission Scotland with a mixture of income from the local community, grant and loan funding.

link to Sleat Community Trust case study
Good Practice

Thorlux

Thorlux, a manufacturer of industrial and commercial lighting, purchased land to afforest for carbon offsetting purposes in Devauden, Monmouthshire, Wales.

link to Thorlux case study
Good Practice

Threave Nature Reserve

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) owns Threave Nature Reserve, a former dairy farm, and manages the land in partnership with Galloway Glens Partnership Scheme (GGLP), a coalition of multiple local and specialist organisations.

link to Threave Nature Reserve case study
Good Practice

Trees for Life

Trees for Life is an environmental charity which owns and manages Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston. Its vision is for revitalised wild forestry in the Highlands of Scotland, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive.

link to Trees for Life case study
Governance & Ownership

West Harris Trust

The West Harris Trust was formed in 2008 to purchase three crofting estates belonging to the Scottish Government.

link to West Harris Trust case study
Housing & Development

Wishawhill Wood Pump Track, Wishaw

Creating a world-class community facility on a vacant and derelict site providing a place where young people are welcome and are free to learn new biking skills

link to Wishawhill Wood Pump Track, Wishaw case study
Housing & Development

Applecross Community Land Use Plan

Significant local housing needs in Applecross have created a collaborative process engaging the community landowner, local authority, and public agencies to identify housing sites through a Community Land Use Plan.

link to Applecross Community Land Use Plan case study
Housing & Development

Countesswells, Aberdeen: a structure for community liaison

In the Countesswells development, the communities' liaison group became a proactive participant in the development and design process.

link to Countesswells, Aberdeen: a structure for community liaison case study
Good Practice

Findrassie Master-planned Neighbourhood, Elgin

For the Findrassie master-planned development, Pitgaveny Estate has taken a longer-term, strategic approach to create a new neighbourhood in collaboration with the community, Moray Council and other key stakeholders.

link to Findrassie Master-planned Neighbourhood, Elgin case study
Governance & Ownership

France – Municipal management of collective ownership structures

In France, there is a core distinction between forest land and ‘other’ land (i.e. rural lands, farm land, etc.) which dates back to the French Revolution. In 2001, a new ‘Forest Law’ was passed in France, which introduced the expectation of forest owners to implement multifunctional forest plans, including responsibilities for providing access and environmental protection.

link to France – Municipal management of collective ownership structures case study
Housing & Development

Dalmarnock: a masterplanning approach

Clyde Gateway is a public urban regeneration agency in Glasgow’s east end and Rutherglen, which worked on the South Dalmarnock Integrated Urban Infrastructure Framework masterplan to unlock development opportunities in an area of significant post-industrial decline and dereliction.

link to Dalmarnock: a masterplanning approach case study
Housing & Development

East Lothian – An area-based study of a higher value and less affordable market

East Lothian Rural Voice was set up by rural stakeholders, including landowners and managers, to look for a partnership way forward with East Lothian Council for more investment in the countryside.

link to East Lothian – An area-based study of a higher value and less affordable market case study
Governance & Ownership

Germany – Municipal landownership and administration

The non-profit sector has a long tradition in Germany and it takes on greater significance for society, politics and economy than in many other countries. More recently, there has been growing concern about the need to change how public land is owned and administered, particularly in the current context of high demand for land and affordable housing in urban areas.

link to Germany – Municipal landownership and administration case study
Good Practice

Timber Eiggxport

Community landowners Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust have worked with Scottish Forestry to design a Forest Plan which includes a phased programme of harvesting over 20 years to make sustainable use of the forest.

link to Timber Eiggxport case study
Good Practice

Doune Ponds – Managing the Land in Partnership: Moray Estates and Doune Community Woodland Group

A former gravel and sand quarry, Doune Ponds is a 40-acre Local Nature Reserve owned by Moray Estates and managed in partnership with Doune Community Woodland Group (DCWG) since 2014.

link to Doune Ponds – Managing the Land in Partnership: Moray Estates and Doune Community Woodland Group case study
Housing & Development

Dumfries Neighbourhood Street Design: Community empowerment

The Dumfries Neighbourhood Street Design project – led by Sustrans Scotland with Dumfries & Galloway Council and the community – transformed a once-neglected part of Dumfries town centre into a more liveable, inclusive and active travel-friendly neighbourhood through a collaborative design process.

link to Dumfries Neighbourhood Street Design: Community empowerment case study
Governance & Ownership

Mexico – Communal agrarian tenure (Ejido system)

Mexico has a long history of development of policies with regards to land tenure. One example is ejidos, now effectively a form of social and private property that contain a mix of individually parcelled land (made possible by the 1992 reform) and some land which is held and used communally.

link to Mexico – Communal agrarian tenure (Ejido system) case study
Housing & Development

Orkney & Islands – An area-based study of a diverse rural area

The challenges of housing delivery in Orkney are not necessarily unique compared to other rural areas but can be magnified by the island setting.

link to Orkney & Islands – An area-based study of a diverse rural area case study
Good Practice

Timber Transport Forum – Developing consultation and engagement guidance

The Timber Transport Forum was one of the first sectors to develop its own guidance on engaging communities in decisions relating to land, as recommended by Scottish Government.

link to Timber Transport Forum – Developing consultation and engagement guidance case study
Housing & Development

Fort William 2040: better proposals, better outcomes

Wider community engagement on placemaking as part of the Fort William 2040 project coincided with engagement on a particularly significant development for the Fort William community.

link to Fort William 2040: better proposals, better outcomes case study
Governance & Ownership

Norway – Municipal ownership and commonage

The history of common landownership and governance in Norway is extensive and predates legal structures, but it is considered to have fostered a ‘co-owner’ agrarian system and society.

link to Norway – Municipal ownership and commonage case study
Housing & Development

Rothiemurchus – A cross subsidy model

The Rothiemurchus Estate has worked with four local families and the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT) to develop a no subsidy housing model on the brownfield site.

link to Rothiemurchus – A cross subsidy model case study
Good Practice

Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn – Galson Estate Trust

Established in 2007 to manage the Galson Estate on the Isle of Lewis for and on behalf of the community.

link to Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn – Galson Estate Trust case study
Good Practice

Cumbernauld Living Landscapes Partnership – Natural Connections

A living landscape partnership approach to bring different landowners together to develop volunteer-led conservation

link to Cumbernauld Living Landscapes Partnership – Natural Connections case study
Housing & Development

Glentress: Paving the way for planning consent

Glentress Forest is one of a number of forests in the Tweed Valley managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. It is at the forefront of their plans to ensure that important forest resources continue to be accessible to the public & offer a range of activities.

link to Glentress: Paving the way for planning consent case study
Housing & Development

Village Farm Site, Tarland

The landowner, the MacRobert Trust, and the Tarland Community Housing project team have been working in partnership to unlock this stalled site.

link to Village Farm Site, Tarland case study
Good Practice

East Neuk Community Action Plan

East Neuk Community Action Plan is an aspirational initiative to develop a long term vision and strategy for East Neuk area of Fife

link to East Neuk Community Action Plan case study
Housing & Development

Inverkeithing: Building quality, trust and community

Kingdom Housing Association’s highly praised phased regeneration project in Inverkeithing has engaged tenants and local residents in the design and decision-making process.

link to Inverkeithing: Building quality, trust and community case study
Housing & Development

Killearn: three-way consultation

Although consultation was not a requirement for the Killearn housing development, the developer ensured that the local community was given the opportunity to positively influence the design.

link to Killearn: three-way consultation case study
Housing & Development

Winchburgh: building long term community relationships

The Winchburgh project is a substantial extension to a small existing settlement in West Lothian where the lead developer has put great emphasis on community engagement.

link to Winchburgh: building long term community relationships case study