Crown Estate Bill introduced to Scottish Parliament

Plans to give local communities greater control of Crown Estate assets have been introduced to the Scottish Parliament through the Scottish Crown Estate Bill.

The bill will help enable the transfer of the management of Scottish Crown Estate assets to local communities on a case-by-case basis.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham it was aimed at “the maximising the benefits of the Crown Estate for our communities and the country as a whole”.

She said: “This is a significant moment for Scotland and is the first ever bill on the Scottish Crown Estate. Building on the work of the Smith Commission, this bill proposes, for the first time, new powers for Scottish Ministers to change who manages Scottish Crown Estate assets, and opens up the possibility of local authorities and communities taking control of the management of those assets.

“The Estate consists of a diverse portfolio, including thousands of hectares of rural land, half of Scotland’s foreshore, urban property and seabed leasing rights for activities such as renewable energy. That is why this bill recognises that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not practical, laying the foundation for changes in the management of individual assets.”

The total capital value of Scottish Crown Estate assets is £275.7m and the approximate gross annual revenue is £15m.