Scottish Land & Estates

Greater flexibility and a rural focus in the planning system is required if rural communities are to thrive in the future as the lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic takes it toll, according to Scottish Land & Estates (SLE).

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has appointed Mark Tennant as its new chairman. Mark Tennant and his family run the Innes Estate in Moray. He is a former chairman of Scottish Financial Enterprise and former deputy chairman of the Scottish Government’s financial services advisory board.

The Scottish Government has taken the decision not to introduce upcoming regulations to improve the energy efficiency of private rented housing given the current focus on coronavirus.

Scottish school children should be taught how their actions now can impact on climate change and the kind of homes they will live in in the future. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has called for more education for school kids on the important role housing plays in our lives, in response to the Sco

A lack of guidance and leadership from the Scottish Government on the incoming changes to the energy efficiency of homes is putting unnecessary pressure on Scotland’s vital private rental sector, according to Scottish Land & Estates (SLE). The rural membership body has written an open lett

Sarah-Jane Laing has been appointed as chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) as the rural business organisation enters the most challenging era in its 110-year history. Starting out at the organisation fifteen years ago as housing strategy officer before moving to the role of hea

The need for planning permission could be removed for certain types of rural developments to help tackle depopulation and support local economies, under new proposals from the Scottish Government.

Private landlords who commit to providing affordable housing should be given the same financial support as housing associations to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, according to Scottish Land & Estates (SLE). In its response to the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency (

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has called on the Scottish Government to ensure local authorities have the powers to apply any new regulations for short-term lets to only those areas that have recognised issues with anti-social behaviour or a housing shortage. The rural business organisation has w

Scottish Green MSPs will stage a series of bids to overhaul Scotland’s planning system over three days of debate in the Scottish Parliament this week. Amendments brought by Green MSPs at stage 3 of the Planning (Scotland) Bill will seek to improve natural habitats in response to the climate cr

More empty homes in the countryside could be returned to use if greater policy flexibility was available to recognise the “unique circumstances” of rural Scotland, according to Scottish Land & Estates. After providing evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s local government and c

A property repair and maintenance reporting system to help residential tenants and landlords has been launched by Scottish Land & Estates (SLE). Believed to be among the first of its kind for the private rented sector in Scotland, the new app and website provides a 24/7 photo and video reporting

Scottish Land & Estates has said that agricultural landlords will work constructively with the Scottish Government and others to improve housing stock on tenanted farms. Cabinet secretary Fergus Ewing and housing minister Kevin Stewart held a summit on the issue with industry stakeholder bodies

Katy Dickson Scottish Land & Estates has appointed Katy Dickson as its new head of policy.

Katy Dickson The Scottish Government’s announcement of a long term strategy for energy efficiency has been broadly welcomed by rural housing providers but caution has been urged in the plan's implementation.