Green MSP Ariane Burgess claims wealth and land taxes would help Moray
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A Green MSP believes introducing new wealth and land taxes would make it easier for people in Moray to live in rural areas.
Ariane Burgess is pointing to a report by the Scottish Land Commission which found that half the land available for housing in Buckie, Speyside, Elgin and Forres belongs to just five landowners.
The MSP, whose Highlands & Islands constituency includes Moray, is now calling for the Scottish Government to consider enacting wealth and land taxes to help spread ownership around more.
Her argument is that when planning permission is granted to build new homes the value of the land increases.
However, at present, that increase doesn't benefit enough people.
Ms Burgess said: "The concentration of land ownership into ever fewer hands should concern us all.
"How we use our land is a vital part of our just transition to a sustainable Scotland, but the benefits of that shift must be felt by the many and not the few.
"The agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government commits us to making sure that the public benefit from land value increases, but we need to embed that approach in all our legislation on land reform and community wealth building.
"Rising prices are reducing access to land for young people and new entrants to the market. Meanwhile, at the same time, they are making much-needed rural housing scarcer and more expensive."
