Developed by the South of Scotland Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) through extensive engagement across the region, the Regional Land Use Framework (RLUF) lays the foundation for the region’s journey towards more sustainable use of land across the South of Scotland.
The South of Scotland RLUP is one of five pilot RLUPs chosen by the Scottish Government. Work started on the South of Scotland RLUP pilot in November 2021 and was delivered through Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Borders Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, and overseen by the Regional Economic Partnership.
Its vision and ambition to drive forward collective action reinforces the South of Scotland as Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone (NCIZ) – which recognises the region’s natural assets, strong partnerships and powerful entrepreneurial mindset. 
Councillor Gail Macgregor, Chair of the South of Scotland REP and Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: 
 “The RLUF sets out a vision for a South of Scotland region where we fully recognise, understand and value the importance of our natural capital to deliver improved and enduring benefits for all, delivering a wellbeing economy through a just transition to Net Zero and nature-positive outcomes. This includes the urgent need to address climate change and biodiversity loss through making informed, collaborative decisions about land-use and identify opportunities and encouraging sustainable investments.”

Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: 
“With the South of Scotland’s natural assets having such a diverse range of uses, it is vital we have a document like this which will aim to help the various partners, groups and land users across the region work together. This crucial strategic document will support our collective vision for a green, fair and flourishing South of Scotland and is also a key enabler for the Regional Economic Partnership’s three priorities - housing, transport and skills. It will lead the way in driving change to deliver a wellbeing economy and help the South become a rural economic powerhouse.”

Councillor Euan Jardine, Scottish Borders Council Leader added:
“The RLUF identifies that the region's land use must adapt to climate change and biodiversity loss to deliver multiple benefits. We have a strong partnership across all key organisations across the South, which gives us a massive opportunity to promote better, more informed, collaborative and integrated decisions about how we use land in the South of Scotland in a sustainable manner for a better future for all. It will help inform the Local Development Plans, Regional Spatial Strategy and Local Place Plans.”

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon said: 
“I would like to congratulate the South of Scotland RLUP for finalising their Regional Land Use Framework. This important piece of work will give everyone, including the Scottish Government greater insight into the opportunities, priorities, and challenges for land use across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. It is important that we work together to address the climate emergency and the impact it’s having on Scotland’s environment in a way that works for our landowners, land managers and wider communities as well as local and national government. The Scottish Government is committed to optimising land use in a fair and inclusive way – which meets local and national objectives and supporting Scotland’s just transition to Net Zero.”

Objectives of the South of Scotland RLUF are to:

• Support and promote better, more informed, collaborative and integrated decisions about how we use land in the South of Scotland in a sustainable manner, addressing the climate and biodiversity crises whilst supporting a wellbeing economy.
• Identify and understand competing pressures on land and identify opportunities for land use to deliver multiple benefits of value to society.
• Inform the targeting of public and private investment in support of transparent, fair, sustainable investments in land use.
• Encourage land-based businesses to work with nature and communities, helping to contribute more to South of Scotland’s prosperity, including jobs, skills development and a just transition.
• Enable urban and rural communities to be better connected to the land, with more people enjoying the land and positively influencing land use.

The South of Scotland RLUF can be viewed at www.southofscotlandrep.com/delivery-strategies