Highlands and Islands Green MSP Ariane Burgess has criticised the decision not to halt the sale of Armadale Estate on Skye, warning it “lets down the local community and Scotland’s vision for land reform.”
The estate, owned by the Clan Donald Lands Trust and home to Armadale Castle and its surrounding lands, is currently up for sale with a closing date of noon this Friday.
Despite concerns raised by local residents and campaigners, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has confirmed it will not intervene.
“This land was meant to benefit the people of Skye and the wider Clan Donald community,” Ms Burgess said.
“Selling it off without proper community consultation goes against the spirit of the charity and the principles of land reform.”
Ms Burgess has backed the Sleat community’s request for OSCR to pause the sale and allow space for a community-led alternative.
Earlier this year, she lodged a parliamentary question urging the Scottish Government to clarify whether the charity was acting in line with its responsibilities.
“This case highlights the urgent need for stronger land reform laws,” she said.
“We need to give communities the power to challenge decisions like this and take ownership of the land they depend on.”
With the Scottish Government currently preparing its next Land Reform Bill, Ms Burgess is calling for tougher measures that ensure land is managed in the public interest and landowners are held accountable for decisions that impact local communities.
“Scotland’s land should serve the people who live on it, not just those who own it,” she added.
“The community in Sleat deserves better, and I’ll continue to stand with them.”
The sale of Armadale Estate is expected to proceed unless further action is taken before Friday’s deadline.
