To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its 2024-25 programme for government to “consult on modernisation of the compulsory purchase system to help deliver a wide range of projects in the public interest”, whether this consultation will include compulsory sale orders and compulsory rental orders in its scope. (S6O-03757)

Compulsory purchase orders can be effective in supporting the delivery of much-needed development in the public interest. However, the legislation is recognised as being complex and out of date. We believe that its reform could contribute to outcomes that people associate with compulsory sales orders, such as bringing more vacant property back into use. That is why, as a first step, we have established an advisory group to review the current legislation and its operation and to seek ways of improving it and making it easier to use. We also continue to consider the justification for, and practical operation of, compulsory sales orders.

Compulsory sales orders and rental orders are critical to tackling the blight of abandoned buildings and derelict land and transforming them to build community wealth, particularly while local government finances are so restricted. Will the Government confirm that the review will also look at enabling the public sector and communities to capture uplifts in land value resulting from development, for example through disregarding hope value?

Work is being done on land reform, but, on the specific issue that Ariane Burgess raises, the work that has been done on compulsory purchase orders is to update the legislation to enable the process to be smoother and to be applied more effectively. The value that is ascribed when a compulsory purchase order goes through has to take into account a number of factors relating to the value of the asset that is being purchased at that time.

Compulsory sales orders could be a valuable tool for local authorities to use to remove the blight of empty homes in our communities. As well as the review of community purchase orders, is the Government looking at a suite of measures to tackle the blight of empty properties, including a council tax multiplier that could fund some compulsory sale or purchase orders?

Councils already have the opportunity to increase council tax on empty properties; that is an option for them to take into account. The Government is undertaking work to look at what can be done to bring more properties back into use. Work with stakeholders is on-going, and we are looking for all opportunities and levers that we can use in that regard.

The reform of compulsory purchase orders is important, because it will make them easier to use and a more effective tool for local authorities and other public bodies. We are also looking at the scope and value that compulsory sales orders could bring to that picture. However, they are not a panacea. There are many complexities around the application of compulsory sales orders that need to be considered as part of the review.