and promotes the interests of crofting in Scotland
to secure the future of crofting.
Extension of Crofting Register
03/12/2013
On 30 November 2013, the Crofting Register extends from only accepting voluntary applications for registration to include applications that must be submitted when certain ‘trigger events’ occur.
These ‘trigger events’ mainly relate to actions requiring an application to the Crofting Commission for approval to change some aspect of the croft land, such as assigning or dividing a croft or the sale of a croft by an owner-occupier crofter.
The facility for voluntary registration will continue and crofters are being urged to continue taking a collective approach towards croft registrations.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, said:
“The requirement to register croft land which is subject to any regulatory application to the Crofting Commission will commence this weekend, exactly one year after the Crofting Register was first introduced.
“However, this new requirement does not mean that voluntary registration will end. Agreeing boundaries with neighbours and others with an interest in the land, before submitting an application to register croft land, should smooth the registration process, which is why the Scottish Government continues to encourage crofters to take a collaborative approach towards registration wherever possible.
“I recognise, and commend, the efforts of all involved in assisting crofters and guiding them through the registration process to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible.”
Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, Sheenagh Adams said: “The Registers of Scotland are keen to encourage community applications. Working with colleagues from the Crofting Commission and the Scottish Crofting Federation, we have run 29 workshops across the crofting areas. We will continue to provide support to those considering community applications.”
Susan Walker, Convener of the Crofting Commission said: “The efforts of Registers of Scotland really do establish crofting in the 21st century. The Crofting Register will be a definitive map-based record for every croft in the country. It will identify and protect croft land by providing a clear statement of interest, easily available for the public to see and will assist the Commission in effectively regulating crofting.”
Seoras Burnett from The Peatcutters Croft at Badralloch explained: “On behalf of my community, I met with representatives from Registers of Scotland and the Crofting Commission, which was very useful as they explained the whole process.
“We found that using the Ordnance Survey as a basis for putting together a map for the register was quite a straightforward process. The experience of making a community map was very positive and we would encourage other communities to submit registrations as a group.”
The Crofting Register is map-based and was launched on 30 November 2012. Over time, it will provide a clear record of the land held within crofting tenure in Scotland, over 750,000 hectares of land in the Highlands and Islands. As well as crofts, the register also includes common grazings and land held runrig.
The Crofting Register is free to view on-line and can be accessed on www.crofts.ros.gov.uk/register/home where detailed guidance on registration in the Register is available.
The Crofting Register is part of the modernisation the Scottish Government has implemented as part of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. This also included launching the majority-elected Crofting Commission, which aims to meet the needs of crofting and crofters in the 21st century.
