Bidwells expands rural presence north of the Border

The new five-year contract, which includes the option of a further four-year extension, covers 87,400 acres of rural land spanning Midlothian, Dumfries & Galloway and Moray.

The portfolio includes 470 leases across tenant farms, residential properties, visitor attractions and rural businesses on Crown Estate Scotland’s four rural estates at Glenlivet, Fochabers, Applegirth and Whitehill.

The appointment builds on a 25-year relationship between the two organisations, with Bidwells already managing Crown Estate Scotland’s coastal portfolio.

The contract will be overseen by Bidwells’ head of rural in Scotland, Ralph Peters and managed from the company’s Perth and Inverness offices.

As part of the agreement, Bidwells said it would increase its Scottish estate management team by around one third, with recruitment already under way.

Mr Peters said the appointment reflected the company’s confidence in the long-term potential of Scotland’s rural economy.

“Managing rural estates at this scale demands high-performing professionals, commercial insight, strong local knowledge and trusted relationships and we are proud to build on our 25-year relationship with Crown Estate Scotland through this partnership,” he said.

“Our focus is clear. We are committed to ensuring Scotland’s rural communities thrive by working closely with all stakeholders to enable the estate’s delivery of long-term value across farming and visitor enterprises.”

Crown Estate Scotland’s director of property, Oster Milambo said the strengthened relationship would help the organisation continue delivering a high level of service to tenants and customers.

He added: “This new contract with Bidwells is an important vehicle in the delivery of our Corporate Plan and meeting our commitments to tenants on our four rural estates, as the largest single landlord of tenant farmers in Scotland.”