Regional Land Use Partnership
What is a Regional Land Use Partnership?
Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) were established by the Scottish Government in 2021 as pilot initiatives across five regions of Scotland. The RLUPs have transitioned from being pilots to becoming ‘formal’ initiatives. The purpose of the NW2045 RLUP is to support stakeholders — including landowners, land managers and local communities- to discuss how land is used and how land-use decisions can be made in a fair and inclusive way.
This collaborative approach is increasingly important as Scotland works to address major challenges such as climate change, nature restoration and sustainable land management.
“In simple terms, RLUPs help people within a region work together to explore land-use issues and identify solutions that benefit both communities and the environment.”
Because of its strong cross-sector collaborative approach, NorthWest2045 was selected to host one of the five RLUP pilot areas.
The NW2045 RLUP – the Land+ Project
The NW2045 RLUP is the only one of the RLUPs that is community-led, rather than being part of a larger organisation such as a National Park
This has allowed the partnership to test a flexible approach that reflects the realities of local communities, rather than relying solely on traditional institutional structures.
The first phase of work focused on the Kinlochbervie Community Council area, which acted as a micro-pilot for the project. Three Community Co-leads worked with the core team to design and deliver the project locally.
Through this process, a set of guiding Land+ Principles was developed. These principles help shape conversations and collaboration within the “’ community of place’, which includes everyone connected to the land within a geographic area, including crofters, landowners, and the wider residents.
Rather than directly delivering projects, the aim of the Land+ approach is to create the conditions that enable positive change.
By facilitating conversations and building trusting relationships, the project encourages people to explore shared challenges, identify opportunities and work together to shape a sustainable future for their communities and landscapes.
The Land+ Handbook
In Spring 2025, the Land+ team, led by Rachel Skene and Lizzie Williams, published the Land+ Handbook.
The handbook brings together the experience, insights and lessons developed since the NW2045 RLUP pilot began in 2021. It outlines the principles behind the Land+ approach and shares practical learning from the project.
