Community ownership continues to increase across Scotland, according to the latest report from the Chief Statistician.

The publication presents the number of assets in community ownership, the number of community groups that own assets and the total area of assets in community ownership.

The publication provides the first figure for a new National Indicator which uses the number of assets owned by community groups to measure the extent of community ownership in Scotland.

As of December 2018 there were 593 assets in community ownership, owned by 429 community groups and with a total area of 209,810 hectares, 2.7% of the total land area of Scotland.

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In 2018, 37 assets came into community ownership, an increase of 7% from 556 in 2017, comprising an additional 3,223 hectares. There were 27 community groups which took ownership of assets for the first time in 2018.

Community ownership is widespread across Scotland, however there is a large difference between the distribution of assets, the community groups that own them and their corresponding land area. Over a third (38%) of assets and a similar proportion (39%) of community groups are located in two local authorities: Highland (142 assets owned by 111 groups) and Argyll and Bute (84 assets owned by 54 groups).

Considering the land area of community owned assets, Na h-Eileanan Siar and Highland together contain 96.4% (202,174 hectares) of the land area in community ownership in Scotland: 60,042 hectares for Highland; and 142,132 hectares for Na h‑Eileanan Siar.

The figures released today were produced by statistical staff in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

(MH/JG)