A RURAL property consultancy says demand for land for natural capital and rewilding is boosting the market for Scottish estates.
The property firm Galbraith has sold and bought estates valued in excess of £50m over the last two years.
The increased variety of motivations for acquiring an upland estate has stimulated the market further which was already benefiting from the booming forestry sector.
Emma Chalmers, Partner of Galbraith said: “The interesting change is there is now a range of buyers with a variety of interests and no longer are the buyers just interested in the more traditional sports of grouse shooting, stalking, fishing and low ground shooting.
“The sales of Glenlochay Estate in Stirlingshire and Auchavan Estate in Angus, sold in 2019 and 2020 respectively, both prompted a number of natural capital buyers to come forward alongside those who were primarily interested in traditional pursuits.
“However, the sale of Kinrara Estate earlier this year saw the majority of potential buyers with interests in woodland creation and natural capital above all else.
“This was further experienced when a stock farm was marketed and sold privately, also earlier this year, with a natural capital buyer secured.
“Thus, demonstrating the changing nature of the market.”
Emma Chalmers continued: “The Scottish estate has always been sought after, formerly principally driven by interest in traditional sports, together with the desire to ‘get away from it all’.
“Demand has always outstripped supply, with only about 10 to 15 estates offered for sale each year, either privately or on the open market.
“However, we are seeing with the accelerating understanding of climate change, growing desire to offset carbon usage, both personally and by business, the need to be more visibly green or indeed by some to meet their net zero targets, the traditional estate, together with the hill and stock farms, are attracting increased interest from this new natural capital purchaser.
“Some buyers look to plant well designed productive forests, others native woodlands or indeed a diverse mixture of both, with the newer peatland restoration also now coming into the mix.
“However Natural Capital isn’t meaning the ceasing of the traditional sports as there are many buyers who look to retain some or all of the sport whilst introducing or expanding natural capital elements.
“Now, we have demand from buyers motivated by woodland creation, habitat restoration, traditional sports, together with other opportunities with the potential to generate an income such as installing a hydro scheme, wind turbines or perhaps creating a distillery, holiday lets or a wedding venue.
“Land is being acquired by businesses to offset carbon emissions whilst providing a financial return from other parts of the estate.”
