As the community landownership model was applied across Scotland it quickly became clear that urban communities were facing additional challenges in their buy outs, including:
- Lack of resources at the early stages
- Additional challenges for more disadvantaged communities
- Land of understanding of the process
- Lack of confidence in urban communities by decision makers
There is notable interest from communities suffering from poverty (70% of our enquiries, measured by SIMD, consistently over the last three years). This reflects other statistics such the 2020 Evaluation of Asset Transfer, and evidence from Edinburgh and the Lothians, and counters initial concerns that affluent communities would disproportionately dominate urban community land. It shows similar motivation to rural communities, who have acted on inequality they faced.
There is evidence of unequal progress, with those in areas with more resources progressing more quickly, and those suffering from lack of resources moving more slowly.
Progress is slow. Demand is not translating into ownership quickly. If we mark success by moving forward significantly in the process (such as starting negotiations with a landowner, or submitting a Community Right to Buy application) 16 community groups are currently progressing successfully with our ongoing support.
Urban landholdings are complex, and data is not freely available. We analysed 57 sites in detail for community groups, and data complexity and lack of transparency is a significant barrier. Multiple landowners, shell companies, absentee landowners, lack of up to date information, options to develop land, and planning applications all have to be understand by communities in order to be proactive over urban land. The data is held in a number of places, not always freely available, and not always accurate.
One community is purchasing a play park, which is on a “residue title” with 99 split-off titles, and they cannot get a valuation. Another community has been tracking down the correct landownership details for a title creditor to allow them to submit a Community Right to Buy application; the landowner has no obligation to provide correct contact details. A large landowner refused to talk to a local community about a key site, but it’s not clear how much land they hold over a number of organisations and land titles, and the local community was then strongly discouraged from asking questions.
The urban community land sector is growing, and succeeding, but the financial circumstances are difficult with the cost of living increases in particular hitting renovation projects for newly purchased projects. These challenges come at a crucial time in the sector’s growth.