Scots can buy land from lairds with Lottery cash

02 October 1998

Scots can buy land from lairds with Lottery cash

THE Government will allow proceeds from the National Lottery to be used by communities to buy land from the wealthy landowners of Scotland.

Donald Dewar, the Scottish secretary, told the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool that communities will be able to apply to the new opportunities fund for grants if the land they live on comes up for sale.

About 600 landowners own 50% of Scotlands land area. The minister said the land question was of “special significance” in Scotland.

The new opportunities fund could provide £10 million over the next three years towards land purchases. This money could also be leveraged to raise other money.

• Financial Times 02/10/98 page 12