Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has revealed details of a wide ranging review of land reform in Scotland.

The Land Reform Review Group will oversee a radical review of land reform – a manifesto commitment - with the aim of delivering a more successful Scotland with stronger communities and economic growth.

The Review Group will finalise the remit of its work and prepare a workplan, expected to be agreed by Ministers in the autumn.  It will report in a series of stages to Scottish Ministers on what the outcomes of land reform should be and what reforms are required. Any legislative changes required will be reported on by the end of 2013.

The Review Group will engage proactively with all parties that have an interest in Land Reform in Scotland, whether access users, access providers, community bodies, crofting community bodies, community land organisations, landowners, Registered Social Landowners (housing associations), local and planning authorities and other public sector bodies, and sustainable development, including rural sustainable development in Scotland.

The Review Group will be chaired by Dr Alison Elliot, who has extensive experience working in the community and voluntary sector. She will be joined by Professor James Hunter and Dr Sarah Skerratt as vice chairpeople, who have experience of the Highlands and Islands and rural development.

A further 10 advisers – with expertise in areas such as property and land issues, economics, legal issues, community-led organisations, landownership, forestry and access – will be appointed to the group shortly.

Launching the Land Reform Review Group, the First Minister highlighted the importance of land reform in Scotland’s story, from the Crofting Acts of the 1880s and 1890s to the more recent right-to-buy legislation and support for community land purchase:

"By improving the relationship between our land and people, we can create stronger communities and deliver the economic growth and fairer society that the people of Scotland quite rightly expect. I want this review to deliver radical change for both rural and urban areas, developing new ideas which will improve current legislation as well as generating even more innovative proposals” he said.

A research paper 'Overview of Evidence on Land Reform in Scotland' has been published to coincide with the launch of the Land Reform Review.

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