{"id":108,"date":"2020-07-22T06:50:09","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T05:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/national-performance-framework\/?p=108"},"modified":"2021-02-09T18:41:53","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T18:41:53","slug":"more-than-pounds-and-pence-a-national-framework-for-valuing-scotlands-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/national-performance-framework\/2020\/07\/22\/more-than-pounds-and-pence-a-national-framework-for-valuing-scotlands-land\/","title":{"rendered":"More than pounds and pence: A national framework for valuing Scotland\u2019s land"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Scottish Land Commission recently published guidance which places wellbeing at the heart of developing vacant or derelict land. In this post, Kathie Pollard, Policy Officer at the Commission, explains the thinking behind the guidance.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting the measure right is crucially important. If we measure the wrong thing, we will do the wrong thing. If our measures tell us everything is fine when it really isn\u2019t, we will be complacent.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Economist Joseph Stiglitz<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Organisations and governments around the world are rethinking how they measure economic success to include social progress as well as productivity.<\/p>\n

In Scotland, our National Performance Framework (NPF) offers a practical way for agencies to work together to deliver on a set of National Outcomes that paint a much wider picture of what success means for Scotland. The NPF offers an ideal framework for considering the wider social benefits of reusing vacant and derelict land.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Land Commission\u2019s report and framework \u2018Guidance on Assessing the Full Economic Benefits of the Productive Reuse of Land<\/a>\u2019, prepared by Biggar Economics, proposes a framework that places wellbeing at the centre of decision-making processes. It suggests using Scotland\u2019s National Outcomes to help make a business case for regeneration projects.<\/p>\n

Why do we need a new approach?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Established in 2017 as a result of the Land Reform (2016) Act, the Land Commission\u2019s vision is a fair, inclusive and productive system of ownership, management and use of land that delivers greater bene\ufb01t for all the people of Scotland. \u00a0The way in which land is owned, used, and managed matters hugely if we want to create a successful Scotland. The very nature of land reform brings into focus Scotland\u2019s National Outcomes, which are embedded in our strategic plan: \u2018Making More of Scotland\u2019s Land\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Wishawhill

Wishawhill Wood Pumptrack<\/p><\/div>\n

One of our aims is to transform Scotland\u2019s approach to vacant and derelict land. We currently have 11,000 hectares recorded on the national register – that\u2019s around twice the size of Dundee.<\/p>\n

Bringing derelict urban sites back into use could provide new homes, space for growing food in towns and cities, greenspaces for people to enjoy the outdoors and an opportunity to improve biodiversity in urban areas. Some sites may even have the potential to generate renewable energy.<\/p>\n

However, many of these sites sit in areas with the greatest poverty and deprivation, with weak prospects for generating reuse. Low land values can mean that owners wait in hope of a better future return. The sites then become \u2018stuck\u2019. Anticipated financial returns to the owner are usually the most important consideration. When these numbers don\u2019t stack up, nothing happens. How can we progress if our measures are based on narrow financial returns?<\/p>\n

Opportunities to bring sites into productive use need to be looked at in the broader economic, social, and environmental sense. We propose a new approach that applies measures wide enough to capture a range of benefits. This is where the National Performance Framework comes in.<\/p>\n

How does it work?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\"Red

Red Tree Magenta, Shawfield<\/p><\/div>\n

The new guidance describes how the benefits of these regeneration projects can be identified and, where possible, quantified, using the National Performance Framework. Some of these benefits will be quantifiable while others can be described qualitatively.<\/p>\n

National Outcomes as a driver<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The NPF provides a logical starting point when looking at how a land reuse project could benefit a local area or community and can be applied at a site level. A focus on Scotland\u2019s National Outcomes encourages greater collaboration and a long-term, holistic view of the potential of places.<\/p>\n

Faced with global challenges such as the pandemic and climate change, the Land Commission believes that a similar approach should be extended to all decisions about land use, recognising the importance of land and its management<\/a> to the health, wealth and overall wellbeing of the population.<\/p>\n

Where can I find out more?<\/h4>\n

The Scottish Land Commission has developed:<\/p>\n