Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Sustainable development definition

What does Sustainable development mean? In legal practice, sustainable development describes decision‑making that balances economic growth with social wellbeing and environmental protection, commonly applied in planning, infrastructure consenting, environmental assessment and public policy. The concept originates from the Brundtland (1987) formulation. It is largely a descriptive expression rather than a single statutory definition, but it is given legal effect through legislation and policy across the UK and Ireland. In England, it underpins the National Planning Policy Framework’s presumption in favour of sustainable development (with economic, social and environmental objectives) and informs plan‑making and nationally significant infrastructure policy (for example, Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, s39;...

Scottish community rights to buy: Part 3A abandoned, neglected or detrimental land and Part 5 sustainable development—eligibility, process, ballots, dealing prohibitions, valuation, appeals, and drafting for missives

Published by a LexisNexis Property expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note summarises the right to buy abandoned, neglected and detrimental land under Part 3A (sections 97B–97Z) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (LR(S)A 2003), and the right to buy land for Sustainable development under Part 5 (sections 45–73) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (LR(S)A 2016). The Scottish Government is conducting a full review of community rights to buy, intended to propose procedural or legislative enhancements to existing Community Right to Buy processes that will support growth in community ownership. The following timetable is proposed:

Phase 1 — initial gathering of evidence and views — completed in Autumn 2024
Phase 2 — assessment and formulation of proposals — completed in Spring 2025
Phase 3 — formal consultation — to be completed in Autumn 2025
Phase 4 — development of proposals — completed December 2025, with any required legislation prepared for introduction early in the next parliamentary session

Overview of land reform in Scotland

The Scottish Government regards land as a resource that should serve the many rather than the few. The community right to buy was first brought in during 2004, initially limited to rural communities only...

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Rachel Oliphant

Pinsent Masons

Rachel is a senior practice development lawyer for the Scottish property team at Pinsent Masons and is senior tutor in conveyancing on the Diploma in Legal Practice at The University of Edinburgh. After practising as a commercial property solicitor in England (at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain) and then in Scotland (at McGrigor Donald which she joined in 1995) Rachel became one of the first property professional support lawyers in Scotland in 2001. Rachel's transactional experience was in property development particularly retail development in both England and Scotland. In her current role at Pinsent Masons Rachel is responsible for keeping the property lawyers up to date on changes in property law and market practice, creating and maintaining precedents and organising and delivering training to ensure that the lawyers in the team are fully-equipped with the necessary technical excellence and skills to deliver a...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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