A Scottish Green MSP is calling for bold action to stop the super wealthy from accumulating vast estates across Scotland.
Ariane Burgess, who represents the Highlands and Islands, has lodged an amendment to the upcoming Land Reform Bill that would give Ministers new powers to block land sales if the buyer already owns more than 500 hectares in Scotland.
The move is designed to tackle what campaigners describe as one of the most unequal patterns of land ownership in Europe.
Currently, half of all land in Scotland is owned by less than 1% of the population.
If approved by the Scottish Parliament, the amendment would mark a significant shift in land reform law, making it easier for communities and individuals to buy land for housing, business, recreation, or conservation.
“Land is power, and far too much of it is in the hands of a very small number of extremely rich people,” said Burgess.
“We need to turn that around, with curbs on how much can be held by any one person and what they use it for.”
The proposals aim to remove some of the financial and legal barriers that have prevented communities from competing with wealthy private buyers, many of whom live overseas or have little connection to the land.
“What chance do communities have of shaping the world around them when they can be outbid by a wealthy and remote landowner who is only looking to exploit it for profit?” she said.
“Scotland has some of the world’s most iconic hills, rivers, nature and coastlines.
“These should benefit all of us rather than being bought and sold by the super rich as a commodity.”
The Greens say their plan would not only limit concentration of land ownership but also unlock land for projects with public value, from affordable housing and local food growing to outdoor education, tourism, and rewilding.
The proposed 500-hectare cap would still allow individuals and businesses to own significant landholdings, but aims to draw a line at what Burgess describes as “hoarding”.
“I hope that the government backs my proposals and that we can curb the power of the land hoarders and start to put Scotland’s land in Scotland’s hands,” she added.
“It is only with bold action that we can finally undo some of the damage that has been done and start to tip the balance and the power away from the super wealthy and towards ordinary people and communities.”
The Scottish Government has yet to confirm whether it will support the amendment when the Land Reform Bill reaches the debate stage in the coming weeks.
