Community asset numbers on a modest rise

THE number of land parcels or buildings to have been transferred into community ownership during last year has risen by seven per cent on the previous 12 months.

According to figures released by the Scottish Government, here, the number of so-called ‘assets’ now in community ownership rose from 663 in 2020 to 771 as at December 31 last year. The figures make clear that all but 20 ‘community assets’ are either land or buildings.

A large number of these ‘community assets’ reside in just two local authorities: Highland and Argyll and Bute, which, between them, boast 259 ‘assets’, some 36 per cent of the total.

Adds the Scottish Government, some 484 community groups own these 711 ‘assets’, which includes 211,988 hectares of land.

Over a longer timeframe, 627 ‘assets’ have been acquired by communities since the year 2000 and 395 since 2010. The 484 number of groups is an increase of 410 since 2000 or before.

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland