Land for communities and affordable housing
National Forest Land is the forests, woods, open land and other property owned by Scottish ministers on behalf of the nation, and managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
The National Forest Land Scheme gives community organisations, recognised non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and/or appropriate housing bodies the opportunity to buy or lease National Forest Land where they can provide increased public benefits.
Download the NFLS Guidance notes (PDF 1.5Mb)
Printed copies of the guidance can be ordered from the Publications section of our site.
What the scheme covers:
Community Acquisition by purchase or lease
Community Acquisition gives communities the opportunity to buy or lease National Forest Land where they can provide increased public benefits.
Land for Woodland Crofts
Land for woodland crofts gives communities the opportunity to buy National Forest Land in order to create woodland crofts, subject to delivery of public benefits.
Land for Affordable Housing
Land for Affordable Housing allows Registered Social Landlords (housing associations) and other housing bodies to buy National Forest Land to provide affordable housing.
Sponsored Sale of Surplus Land
The Sponsored Sale of Surplus Land gives communities and others the opportunity to buy National Forest Land which is surplus to requirements. Surplus land is land that makes little net contribution to Forestry Commission Scotland’s public policy objectives.
NFLS Application form
You can download the NFLS Application form in PDF or MS Word format. Note that there is a separate application form for NGOs applying to purchase surplus land.
Alternatively, contact Betsy Walling to get an application form. Telephone: 01349 862144 or email: betsy.walling@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.
Details of approved and pending applications
See the applications to the National Forest Land Scheme page.
Criteria for selecting national forest land for sale
Read about how we select national forest land for sale.
