A SCOTTISH Government minister has told landowners at an annual conference that there is “strong support” in the public for land reform.

Speaking at the Scottish Lands and Estates spring conference, Dr Aileen McLeod faced a sceptical audience as she said that broader benefits would arise through the changes to land ownership.

The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform was the keynote speaker at the Edinburgh event, telling landowners from throughout the country that she hopes there will soon be “much more” land under community ownership.

Also addressing the crowd was SLE chairman David Johnstone, who said landowners need to “demonstrate the public benefit” of private land ownership, claiming that the recognition they deserve is overshadowed by “arguments rooted in ideology”.

Late last year, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a “radical programme” of reform in Scotland, saying 12 bills will be brought to Parliament to take action against landowners posing a “barrier” to land developments.

The proposals include the establishment of a new Land Reform Commission as well as new lands rights and responsibilities. They would scrap exemption tax rates for hunting and deerstalking estates.

McLeod insisted the land reform plans were not ideologically driven and were instead motivated by bringing benefits to the public.

“Our vision for land reform is that Scotland’s land delivers the greatest benefit to all the people of Scotland,” McLeod said.

“We fully recognise the expertise and role of landowners in managing land. But we want to see greater collaboration between communities and landowners, with agreement over how priorities and benefits should be delivered from land.”

She added: “I believe that the reforms proposed in the Land Reform Bill will benefit all those with a stake in the future of land ownership and land management in Scotland.”

The SLE chairman acknowledged the minister’s pledges but said that while there will be some measures that he supports, he will fight against others. Johnstone said: “The challenge we face is to break down the stereotype image that is so convenient for those who are critical of the very existence of estates. They do not wish to acknowledge what is happening on the ground and what can be achieved in the future.

“At local level, there is a great deal of recognition of the contribution of landowners and their businesses. However, in the context of a national political debate, that recognition is often overshadowed by arguments rooted in ideology.

Citing estates that provide affordable social housing and tourism, Johnstone claimed that private land ownership has more positives than negatives.

“Out of the whole process we would dearly like to see things moving forward where it is easier for decision-makers at local, regional and national level to recognise that private landowners are willing and enthusiastic partners in delivering public benefit,” he said.

Just days ago the Scottish Government announced that more than 70 per cent of respondents in the formal consultation process backed the land reform proposals.