Buy land or buildings

As part of caring for Scotland’s national forests and land, we review which properties to sell (disposal) and look for new ones to buy (acquisition). We follow the approach set out in our Acquisition and Disposal Policy.

Disposals

Disposals include:

• if land or buildings are surplus
• if land or buildings are part of our asset management disposal programme

Once we have identified a disposal: 

• we notify Scottish Government Property Division to advertise to Scottish Public Sector Bodies
• at the same time, we notify communities, housing bodies and non-governmental organisations

This gives these bodies an opportunity to bid on a property before it's put on the open market.

The Community Empowerment Act

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 gives communities the right to buy or lease public land. The Community Asset Transfer Scheme (CATS) sets out how we deliver the requirements of the act. It explains how communities can make an Asset Transfer Request for any land or property on Scotland's national forests and land. For further information and guidance on making a request please refer to:

• the Community Asset Transfer Scheme pages 
• the Scottish Government's Asset Transfer pages

Communities have legal rights to apply to buy any land for sale under the community right to buy rules. If these groups don't express any interest, we will list the property for sale on the open market through our selling agent or at auction.

See our Current availability and community notifications page to view current availability.

Other ways we sell and exchange land

When no other options are available, we can enter into a contract of excambion. This is a legal process where one piece of land is exchanged for another. This process can improve the management of both landholdings and assist us in delivering public benefits from the national forests and land.

All land will be subject to valuation at market value. We will sometimes sell land through limited tender or similar methods. This usually happens when things like the property's location or limited access make it hard to sell on the open market. Sale by private treaty will be exceptional. 

We don’t usually sell land through direct negotiation, unless it supports the management of the national forests and land, or helps deliver wider Scottish Government priorities.

For further information go to Direct property sales.