There was strong support for harmonising thresholds across that Bill rather than having a 3,000 hectares threshold for the community engagement obligations and 1,000 hectares for the other provisions in the Bill.iiiNet Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 5 November 2024, col 16, 34, 47; Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 26 November 2024, cols 40-41; Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, Official Report, 3 December 2024, col 31 There was some support for a 1,000 hectares threshold across the boardiiWritten submissions including WWF Scotland, Assynt Foundation. and this was the recommendation of the SLC.vScottish Land Commission, The Land Reform Bill - Part 1: Advice to Ministers (January 2025)
Some witnesses supported a lower threshold of 500 hectares.iiWritten submissions including Scottish Crofting Federation, Scottish Community Alliance, Development Trusts Association Scotland and Peter Peacock Peter Peacock stated that this would exclude all individual crofts and 97% of all farm enterprises.Written submission of Peter Peacock The Scottish Crofting Federation also highlighted that 96.4% of agricultural holdings in Scotland are under 500 hectares so considered the argument that a 500 hectares threshold would unduly affect “family farms” not to be credible.Written submission of Scottish Crofting Federation
CLS proposed a different approach affecting “significant” rather than “large” landholdings.