STRUTT and Parker has announced that it has been appointed as managing agent for Crown Estate Scotland’s rural property portfolio with effect from April 1.

Crown Estate Scotland recently put a range of property management contracts out for re-tender, with a full public procurement exercise receiving tenders in early September. These tenders were rigorously evaluated on price and quality, and the outcome of the evaluation and recommendations were approved by their board at the end of November.

Strutt and Parker’s rural consultancy team in Scotland, which is based in offices in Inverness, Banchory, Perth and Edinburgh, won the contract to manage Crown Estate Scotland’s rural portfolio in both the North and the South of Scotland. This contract will run for an initial three-year period.

The current rural portfolio extends to approximately 35,324ha (87,287 acres) and consists of significant residential, agricultural and other assets across four estates: Fochabers and Glenlivet in Moray, Whitehill in Midlothian and Applegirth in Dumfries and Galloway.

Head of rural for Strutt and Parker in Scotland, Andrew Aitchison, said: “Strutt and Parker and our colleagues in the wider BNP Paribas Real Estate business are delighted to have been successful in winning this contract and are looking forward to representing Crown Estate Scotland at a time of change for Scotland’s rural economy. We will be focused on working on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland to maintain and enhance relations with tenants and other stakeholders, to safeguard and develop the long-term sustainability of the land and natural capital they manage and the businesses they run.”

Director of property for Crown Estate Scotland, Andy Wells, said: ‘We’re delighted to announce our intention to work closely with Strutt and Parker from April onwards on helping us deliver the best support to our rural tenants, and the communities we work with across Scotland.”