A scheme that enables Scottish communities to buy publicly-owned forests managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, without waiting for them to be put up for sale, has been launched by Scottish forestry minister Lewis Macdonald.
The new National Forest Land Scheme also provides for the Commission to sell national forest land for affordable housing to housing associations and trusts, and for “sponsored” land sales, where communities can buy surplus national forest land that the Commission proposes to sell.
Launching the scheme in Abriachan, Inverness-shire Mr Macdonald said: “We are keen to involve communities in the management of national forest land in ways ranging from consultation, through participation and partnerships, to leasing or purchase, and Forestry Commission Scotland is already working in partnerships with more than 80 communities.”
The second part of the scheme builds on work already done by the Commission and Communities Scotland to identify plots of national forest land in areas of housing need, that the Commission could release for affordable housing.
Mr Macdonald said the benefits of building in timber would be promoted and added: “It will be an aim of the National Forest Land Scheme that all developments by housing associations on national forest land will be built using timber that is certified as coming from a sustainable source.”
The third part of the scheme provides for the “sponsored” sale to communities of land that is surplus to the Commission’s requirements without its being placed on the open market.
