United Kingdom: Land Law & Agriculture

As sustainability pressures mount and net-zero targets drive demand for carbon offsetting, UK landowners face a significant opportunity to generate income through carbon credit schemes. With the market contributing £1.2 billion to the UK economy in 2025 and carbon credits trading at £25-£35 per tonne, peatland restoration and woodland creation projects offer substantial returns while enhancing biodiversity and environmental protection.

Shooting rights can be valuable rural assets. They are generally granted or reserved out of land, and then may be bought, sold, leased and, in some cases, registered separately from the land. They are also governed by a complex mix of property law, historic rights and modern case law.

A family farming business in Cumbria seeks guidance on structuring partnerships and discretionary trusts to balance the needs of their farming son who will inherit the 32-hectare operation with ensuring fair treatment of their two non-farming daughters. The advice explores how discretionary trusts can provide flexibility for succession planning while addressing the practical challenges of raising capital and managing competing family interests.

Rural landowners face complex legal questions when wild swimmers use their lochs, rivers and reservoirs. With water-related fatalities rising and participation surging, understanding occupier liability duties has become essential for estates, farms and rural businesses managing open water access.

A recent Scottish court case clarifies what property owners must prove to enforce real burdens against their neighbours. The decision examines whether personal feelings about development changes constitute sufficient grounds to block construction, or if objective evidence of material harm to property value or enjoyment is required.

Divorce proceedings in the agricultural sector present unique challenges when farmland, livestock, machinery, and generational assets are at stake. From protecting inherited property and ensuring full financial disclosure to managing tax implications and safeguarding business viability, farming families face complex decisions that can impact decades of work and future succession plans.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 has now been passed. It introduces significant changes to the sale of large landholdings, which will now be subject to mandatory lotting decisions...

As winter is coming to a close, before we greet a new spring, we look back at what has been a challenging year for the rural sector.

With the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill now passed, the land management obligations for large landowners have been more clearly defined.