CLAN Feed

Introduction

The rise of contemporary community landownership in Scotland over the past thirty-five years has far outpaced systematic research into it. Legislation and funding to support its expansion has developed despite numerous and persistent knowledge gaps such as how it affects local people and environments — or indeed the historic precedence of other forms of communal land governance in Scotland and beyond. The absence of a strong and collaborative research base could undermine ongoing land reform policy in Scotland and underlines the role that the research community can and should play.

The Community Landownership Academic Network (CLAN) was established in 2021 to corral existing research, identify knowledge gaps, and work in partnership with a range of stakeholders to plan, conduct, and disseminate relevant applied research in this area. The 2026 CLAN Gathering will represent the first academic conference on this topic, with a format suited to the presentation and discussion of new knowledge and findings in this area. To ensure that such knowledge is useful and practically relevant, we greatly welcome everyone interested or involved in this topic to attend, including those working in policy, practice and funding.

Conference structure and call for abstracts

The in-person conference will specifically consider the history, policy and practice of community land. While much attention may focus on the Scottish context, we welcome submissions relating to community landownership globally. Submissions can be made for either oral or poster presentations here. Due to time constraints, we may not be able to accommodate all oral presentations, in which instance the applicant may be offered a poster presentation instead.

• The discussion of history will comprise a facilitated discussion with an invited panel of speakers, focusing on key historical developments and their impact on contemporary understandings. As such, submissions relating to the history of community landownership are limited to poster presentations.
• We welcome proposals for oral or poster presentations relating to recent research on modern community landownership in Scotland and beyond. Research proposals and ideas in development are also welcomed, with postgraduate and early-career researchers particularly encouraged to present.
• Finally, based on these presentations and other knowledge of the field, conference attendees will be invited to inform a strategic research agenda to guide future work in this area. This will take the form of a facilitated workshop which all are invited to contribute to.

Further details of timings, panel members and guest speakers will be revealed in due course, so keep an eye on CLAN’s social media for updates.

Dates, logistics and accommodation

The first CLAN Gathering will take place at UHI Perth from 16th - 17th June 2026. Perth is easily accessible on train and bus routes. The UHI Perth campus is a short bus/taxi from the bus/train stations, or around a 30-minute walk.

Affordable accommodation is available at the Perth Youth Hostel which is situated on the UHI Perth campus. In addition, there are a wide range of hotels and other accommodation options in Perth City Centre.

Lunches and refreshments will be provided for attendees, while the conference dinner will be available at an additional cost.

Costs

Costs for attendees will be kept to an absolute minimum. Funding is yet to be confirmed so we cannot give an indication of what the Conference fee may be, or indeed whether travel costs may be covered/subsidised. However, we do not anticipate the cost to be in excess of £50 per person.

Timeline

• 31st January 2026: Deadline for abstract/presentation applications
• 1st March - 30th April 2026: Registration open
• 16th-17th June 2026: CLAN Gathering

Local Place Plans were introduced by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable local communities to influence Local Development Plans. By the end of 2024 there were 88 registered Local Place Plans located largely in rural planning authorities in Scotland. How can this be explained? What are the drivers, processes and outcomes? By interviewing different actors involved in local place planning, the dissertation examined the extent to which Local Place Plans build capacity and coordinate place-based activity in rural communities and support a just transition.

Collaborative planning refers to wide involvement and engagement of local interests in plan-making to help progress change in a place. Patsy Healey’s interpretation of collaborative planning theory offers principles and ideas focused on governance, communication and relationship-building in planning processes that can be helpful when undergoing significant land use change. The dissertation argues that if just transition is based on fair and transparent stakeholder participation (also referred to in the literature as procedural justice) then collaborative planning offers useful principles for a just transition.

It's still early days but the findings suggest that the process of preparing Local Place Plans has an important deliberative role in build consensus and capacity which is important for a just transition. However, there are disparities regarding the uptake of Local Place Plans and their ability to influence planning decisions. Increased capacity and skills are needed at planning authority and community level to enable Local Place Plans to be developed evenly and equitably. The (technical) requirement to spatially map and align with National Planning Framework 4 has the potential to make communities dependent on external support and expertise. Other findings include that Local Place Plans are being used for more than ‘planning’, for example, to help access funding and to deliver local improvements linked to transport, health, and sustainability. There are early indications that the Local Place Plans register is a resource for other local interests, beyond planning.

There are range of factors are associated with the Local Place Plans process including the rural geography of communities and community benefit funds linked to renewable energy projects. The Covid-19 pandemic also was also poignant in highlighting local needs and priorities around the time of Local Place Plan development. While more research is needed to assess the practices and outcomes of Local Place Plans, the dissertation suggests that Local Plan Plans have potential to facilitate greater participation in local issues. From an academic perspective, bringing together just transition concepts and planning theory offers a valuable contribution to both theory and practice which should be further explored.