Concerns Rise Over Mega-Lairds Buying Scottish Land for Profit

New investors, including billionaires and corporations, are purchasing extensive areas of land in Scotland, raising concerns from campaigners about their extractive business models. Organizations like Community Land Scotland are advocating for increased scrutiny of these new 'mega-lairds,' who often manage land through asset management and investment funds without clear long-term commitments to local communities or environmental sustainability.

Companies such as Gresham House and Discovery Land Company are among the notable buyers, with plans for luxury developments. Oxygen Conservation, a rapidly growing firm, controls 13 estates across the UK, including five in Scotland, and aims to expand their portfolio to 250,000 acres by 2030. However, questions arise regarding their financial stability, reliance on carbon credits, and the transparency of their operations, particularly concerning local community impacts and land transaction practices.