Professor John Robertson OBA
From Community Ownership in Scotland 2024, published today, the above and:
This publication reports the number of assets in community ownership which are recorded by the Scottish Government. There are several initiatives which have been put in place to enable community ownership.
There are several initiatives which have been put in place to enable community ownership. The Scottish Land Fund, as it is now known, was founded in 2001. It now supports both rural and urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of assets. Legislation concerning land reform commencing in 2004 (Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003) and 2016 (Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016) enhanced existing community right to buy.
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 introduced new legislation giving communities the right to request to buy, lease, manage or use land and buildings belonging to local authorities, Scottish public bodies or Scottish Ministers.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/community-ownership-in-scotland-2024/pages/introduction/
In 2019, in England, there were 6 325 assets in community ownership but since then there is only an estimate – 7 500 to 8 000.
Even if we accept the 8 000 figure, that is significantly lower than the 8 530 figured based on a per head population ratio of 10 to 1, or 6.6%. If take the 7 500 figure, it’s 13.7%
Why is community ownership in the UK a good thing?
Community ownership of assets in the UK (pubs, shops, village halls, parks, sports facilities, piers, libraries, etc.) is widely regarded as a good thing for a combination of economic, social, democratic and environmental reasons. Below are the main, evidence-backed benefits:
| Benefit | What it means in practice | Supporting evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps money circulating locally | Community shops and pubs retain 56–76p of every £1 spent in the local economy (vs. 10–30p for corporate chains). | Plunkett UK 2024; Power to Change 2024 |
| Higher survival rates | 99% of community-owned businesses are still trading after 5 years (vs. 39–42% for conventional SMEs). | Plunkett UK long-term tracking 2012–2024 |
| Creates and protects jobs | 39,000 paid jobs + 140,000 volunteers across the sector; many in deprived or rural areas with few alternatives. | Power to Change “Community Business Market 2024” |
| Prevents permanent loss of vital services | Stops the spiral of closure → fewer reasons to visit → more closures. Over 2,000 “last shop in the village” cases rescued since 2000. | Locality & Plunkett data |
| Improves health and wellbeing | Community hubs reduce loneliness (23% lower social isolation scores) and increase physical activity (e.g., community sports facilities). | What Works Wellbeing / Power to Change 2023 |
| Stronger democracy and civic pride | Ownership gives local people real control rather than distant councils or corporations. 87% of residents feel prouder of their area after an asset is saved. | MyCommunity / Locality surveys |
| Regenerates high streets and town centres | 39% of community-owned assets are on high streets; they act as anchor tenants that attract other businesses. | Power to Change 2024 |
| Environmental benefits | Community energy schemes (e.g. co-ops owning solar/wind) have installed >300 MW of renewable capacity and typically reinvest profits in further green projects. | Community Energy England 2024 |
| Saves public money long-term | Councils offload maintenance of libraries, parks, swimming pools etc. while still securing community use via leases or freeholds. | New Local / Locality case studies |
| Builds community resilience | During Covid, community-owned shops and pubs were 3–4× more likely to pivot to delivery, food parcels, and prescription runs. | Plunkett UK Covid impact report 2021 |
| Increases property values nearby | Studies show a community pub or shop can raise surrounding house prices by 3–7% (because the area becomes more desirable). | Savills / Pub is the Hub research |
Real-world examples
- The Ivy House, Peckham (London’s first co-operatively owned pub) – saved in 2012, still thriving 2025, hosts gigs, nursery, and community events.
- Gwent Green Grid – community-owned woodlands and parks in South Wales that now generate income from carbon credits and sustainable timber.
- Hudswell Community Pub, North Yorkshire – won national Pub of the Year twice after villagers bought it in 2010.
In short, community ownership turns “at-risk” buildings into financially sustainable, socially valuable assets that would otherwise be lost forever. It is one of the few proven ways to reverse the long-term decline of rural and deprived urban neighbourhoods in the UK.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
More land has gone back to Community ownership. The Clearances. Etc. People in Scotland can buy land and put a shed on it. Scotland has a ‘right to roam’. So people can ramble where they want. They can access the land. Scotland is one of the least densely populated places in the world.
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In England the land is owned by Royalty and pension funds. Not as accessible. Scotland has a separate legal system. England does not have ‘a right to roam’. Land has enclosures. A different historical feudal system. In Scotland the people are sovereign. Historically.The King/Queen, the nobles, the Church and the citizens. More equal rights. .
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GRE
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