South Pioneers Approach to Land Use

The South of Scotland has published the country’s first Regional Land Use Framework (RLUF) which aims to prioritise how the area’s land is developed to reduce the impact of climate change.

The South of Scotland Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) is one of five pilots chosen by the Scottish Government. Work started on the South of Scotland pilot in November 2021 and was delivered through Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Borders Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, and overseen by the Regional Economic Partnership.

The Partnership states that its “vision and ambition to drive forward collective action reinforces the South of Scotland as Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone (NCIZ)”, which is designed to recognise the region’s natural assets, strong partnerships and powerful entrepreneurial mindset. The publication of a framework is a vital next step, according to Councillor Euan Jardine, the leader of Scottish Borders Council.

“The RLUF identifies that the region’s land use must adapt to climate change and biodiversity loss to deliver multiple benefits,” he said.

“We have a strong partnership across all key organisations across the South, which gives us a massive opportunity to promote better, more informed, collaborative and integrated decisions about how we use land in a sustainable manner for a better future for all.

“This will help inform the [council] Local Development Plans, Regional Spatial Strategy and Local Place Plans.”

The South of Scotland RLUF was published on 30 September and is being seen a uniting force that can bring together businesses, land owners and communities in a vision with agreed priorities for land use across the whole region that address the climate and biodiversity crises. It is hoped this approach could lay a foundation for more sustainable use of land across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, and provide a template for the rest of Scotland.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon congratulated the South of Scotland partnership bodies for leading the way in Scotland.

“This important piece of work will give everyone, including the Scottish Government, greater insight into the opportunities, priorities, and challenges for land use across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders,” she said.

“It is important that we work together to address the climate emergency and the impact it’s having on Scotland’s environment in a way that works for our landowners, land managers and wider communities as well as local and national government.

“The Scottish Government is committed to optimising land use in a fair and inclusive way, which meets local and national objectives and supporting Scotland’s just transition to Net Zero.”

Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, added: “With the South of Scotland’s natural assets having such a diverse range of uses, it is vital we have a document like this which will aim to help the various partners, groups and land users across the region work together.

“This crucial strategic document will support our collective vision for a green, fair and flourishing South of Scotland and is also a key enabler for the Regional Economic Partnership’s three priorities – housing, transport and skills.

“The RLUF will lead the way in driving change to deliver a wellbeing economy and help the South become a rural economic powerhouse.”

The objectives of the South of Scotland RLUF are to: