Scotland takes helm of Crown Estate assets

Scottish government has gained control over the revenue and management of Crown Estate resources in Scotland.

From April 1, 2017, Scottish Ministers are in control over thousands of hectares of rural land, approximately half Scotland’s foreshore, and leasing the seabed for rights to generate electricity from wind, waves, and tides.

New body named Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) will manage the assets worth £271.8 million total in 2015/16, generating a gross annual revenue of £14 million.

Roseanna Cunningham, Scotland’s Land Reform Secretary, said: “The management and resources of the Crown Estate now rest with the people of Scotland and we have a genuine, once in a lifetime opportunity to use them to change the fabric of Scottish society, placing the needs of local and coastal communities at the center of our long term planning for these considerable assets.

“Decisions about both the day-to-day management and the future of the estate will be taken in Scotland. This will have positive implications, not only for the many people who live, work or have some other direct connection with the Crown Estate, but for many communities across Scotland. They stand to benefit from the further changes to come, including opportunities for devolved local management of assets.”

Taking the phased approach on devolution of the management of the Crown Estate, the Scottish government closed the consultation on the long-term management of the Crown Estate Scotland, being established as a public corporation, on March 29, 2017.