Scotland leads UK in community asset transfers.

Scotland is setting an inspiring example for the rest of the UK when it comes to empowering rural communities to take control of land and buildings from public authorities. A groundbreaking study, titled Rural Assets: Policy and Practice Insights from the Devolved Nations, conducted by Dr Dani Hutcheon from the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, sheds light on the challenges faced by rural communities across the UK in safeguarding community assets.

Over the course of two years, this project, funded by the British Academy and Nuffield Foundation, brought together experts from various institutions including Glasgow Caledonian University, Bangor University, the University of the Highlands and Islands Perth College, Anglia Ruskin University, the James Hutton Institute, and CommunityThinking.org.

The study highlighted Scotland as the most progressive nation in the UK concerning community asset transfer legislation. Calls for similar rights, such as the introduction of a Community Right to Buy, have been made in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, taking inspiration from Scotland’s approach.

Dr Hutcheon remarked, “There is no doubt that the rest of the UK is closely watching Scotland’s progress in this area. Valuable lessons can be learned and shared with other nations on the impact of this legislation. However, there are significant hurdles that rural communities in Scotland face, particularly the lack of capacity within these communities due to smaller populations and limited volunteer pools.”

One of the key challenges identified in the study is the issue of succession planning in rural communities. Aging populations and the migration of young people pose obstacles when demonstrating the future sustainability of projects in asset acquisition applications.

The impact of this study has already resonated within the political realm. Dr Hutcheon now serves as a member of the Scottish Government National Asset Transfer Working Group, providing valuable evidence to the national Community Empowerment Team. Additionally, she has been invited to present evidence from the project in a formal parliamentary session at the NI Assembly at Stormont later this year.

Furthermore, the research findings have been shared with the Welsh Government, which is considering the adoption of Community Asset Transfer legislation, showcasing the tangible influence of this groundbreaking study.