Govanhill Housing Association CEO Anne Lear has been announced as one of seven members appointed to the new Scottish Land Fund (SLF) committee.

Revealed by land reform minister Dr Aileen McLeod, the committee will be chaired by John Watt and is also made up of Calum Macleod, Lisa Tennant, David Green, Duncan MacPherson and Janet Miles. The appointments will run until March 2017 on a part time basis.

The Scottish Government’s £10 million Scottish Land Fund, will support more communities, both urban and rural, to buy their land and other assets. The fund is being delivered by the Big Lottery Fund in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and opens for applications on April 1.

Anne Lear is also an external examiner for the University of Glasgow - Diploma in Housing Course (CIOH), is a lead member for the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) with a special interest in community development and a former chair of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

The previous Land Fund awarded £9m over three years to 52 communities throughout Scotland. Of the 500,000 acres of land already in community ownership, over 90,000 acres was purchased with help from the Land Fund, benefiting 71,000 people throughout the country.

Aileen McLeod said: “I am delighted to announce the new committee members for the Scottish Land Fund. Each member has a wide ranging experience and a deep passion for community land issues and I am confident collectively they will provide strategic direction and ensure the success of the fund.

“With the passing of the momentous Land Reform Bill last week and the opening of the new fund next month – community ownership in Scotland is going from strength to strength. We are seeing a new dawn for radical land reform across the length and breadth of the country. The Scottish Land Fund has already made a real difference to many local communities across Scotland helping community groups to purchase their own land.

“I would encourage all those urban and rural communities with ambitions to own their own land to apply for the Scottish Land Fund. This Fund can help communities across the country acquire land and community assets which will make their communities stronger, resilient and more sustainable.”

Scottish Land & Estates, which represents land-based businesses across Scotland, has welcomed the new Committee.

David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We support community land ownership as part of a diverse range of publicly and privately funded ownership models.

“Our members and staff are willing to assist with advice on land and property management that may be useful to prospective owners.”