Urban communities could be given right to buy land under new bill

Glasgow: People in urban communities could be given greater opportunities to buy land.© STV

Urban communities across Scotland could be given greater opportunities to own their own land and buildings under ideas for a new bill.

Local Government Minister Derek Mackay launched a consultation on Wednesday exploring how to give local people a more direct say in what happens in their communities.

Responses to the consultation will help shape the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.

Ideas being explored in the consultation include extending right to buy, similar to the one enjoyed by rural communities in Scotland, to larger towns and cities.

This could allow people in urban Scotland to follow in the footsteps of recent successful community buyouts such as the former airbase at Machrihanish in Argyll.

The consultation also considers whether communities should have a right to ask to take on unused public sector assets such as school and health centres and how communities can be more involved in making decisions on local budgets, helping public sector organisations identify the needs and priorities in an area and target budgets more effectively.

The consultation explores ideas designed to give people a better understanding of the public sector assets in their area, such as asking public sector authorities to publish a register of their assets and asset management plans.

The consultation also seeks views on giving communities the right to ask local authorities to repair dangerous buildings and giving authorities better powers to recover the costs of repairs to these buildings, which will allow repairs to take place at an earlier stage and bring buildings back into use.

The consultation also looks at giving local authorities the power to enforce the sale or lease of empty homes, where the property is causing problems for neighbours or is in poor condition, or where there is high demand for housing in an area.

The local authority would be entitled to recover its costs from the sale price or rent.

Launching the consultation at the Community Central Halls in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, Local Government Minister Derek Mackay said: "This Government believes that Scottish communities are a rich source of creativity and talent. Our people are our greatest asset.

"Travelling across Scotland I have seen at first hand the strong foundation of active communities we already have and I want this proposed legislation to build on this.

"Today I am launching an open consulation on a proposed Bill which will support communities to achieve their own goals and aspirations through taking independent action and by having their voices heard in the decisions that affect their area.

"The ideas in this consultation are designed to strengthen community participation, unlock enterprising community development and renew our communities.

"We want to explore these ideas and see how we can remove bureaucratic barriers and develop a meaningful and effective legislative framework to support community activity."

Ian Cooke, director of Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS), said: "As long-time advocates of community enterprise, community ownership and community-led regeneration, DTAS particularly welcomes those sections within the consultation document which address these areas, identify barriers and explore how these could be addressed."

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