14th April 2021

When the concept of ‘social enterprise’ first entered the world of the voluntary sector there was a fair amount of resistance. The business culture – making profit –  seemed alien and an unwelcome import from the private sector. Gradually though, that resistance has softened although debates still rage as to the legitimacy of the asset lock. One area of more subtle debate is around the nature of social enterprise in a rural setting as opposed to urban. Does a rural social enterprise dance to a different tune than its urban counterpart. Some interesting research commissioned by Inspiralba suggests it does.

It’s well known that decisions about land use will be critical if the country is to become a net zero nation by 2045 (although arguably how we use Scotland’s marine environment is even more critical). Scotland’s Just Transition Commission, in its final report, underlines this and argues that Scotland’s concentrated land ownership risks the benefits from investment in carbon sequestration being skewed away from communities towards large landowners. The report adds weight to the growing clamour for a public interest test to be introduced on land acquisitions over a certain size. Excellent blog on this from Calum Macleod.

Although it’s unlikely there are many who still remember how it was achieved, there was a time when sufficient political consensus existed to build social housing at scale. Land was assembled, compulsorily purchased at ‘existing use’ value and the much needed housing was duly built. That’s not to argue that the creation of vast peripheral housing estates was done well – the problems endured by these communities are well documented. But that political will and civic energy, so necessary back then, has disappeared without trace. Just as well then that community developers like those in Assynt and Applecross are stepping up.

Over the years I’ve had discussions with two housing developers, both of whom harboured dreams of building a ‘model community’ with collective ownership at its heart. Their plans were clearly to make a lot of money while at the same time delivering some kind of utopian dream. Needless to say neither came to anything. The idea of building community from the top down is a complete non-starter. Mike Cowley in the Sceptical Scot offers some thoughts on the matter. George Orwell’s ideal pub sounds like not a bad starting point  – darts, piano and staff who know your name.