Scotland's land information system: what is it and why it matters

Past event: 8th March 2023

Scotland’s land information system: what is it and why it matters

On Wednesday 8th March 2023 the David Hume Institute and Built Environment Forum Scotland hosted a webinar to discuss a new report about Scotland’s land information system, written by land reform expert Andy Wightman.

Andy Wightman, writer, researcher and former member of the Scottish Parliament was joined by Professor Stewart Brymer, solicitor and Honorary Professor in law at the University of Dundee to discuss why the lack of a fully functioning land and building information system is holding Scotland back. The event was chaired by Ailsa Macfarlane, Director of the Built Environment Forum Scotland.

Information about land is used everyday by businesses, policy-makers, academics and ordinary citizens. This information ranges from land ownership to valuation, from energy efficiency ratings to building types and from vegetation cover to flood risks.

All of this information exists in some form, however much of it is not easily available and virtually none of it is made available in an integrated form. As the impacts of climate change intensify, there is even greater need for more timely, more comprehensive and more accessible information about land and buildings in Scotland.