Galbraith expands rural team as rural sector proves resilient

24/09/2020
Crawford Mackay of Galbraith

LEADING land agency Galbraith has appointed Crawford MacKay as a Senior Associate in its rural team as land prices hold firm and the rural sector offers continued opportunity, despite the poor economic outlook.

Mr Mackay, who has previously worked for Galbraith, is based in Edinburgh and will provide rural consultancy, estate management, valuation and agency advice across the central belt, southern Scotland and northern England.

Ian Hope, head of the rural division at Galbraith commented:

“Crawford was a highly valued member of the rural team previously but he re-joins the firm with an additional five years of experience and having worked client-side for a major institutional landowner. This portfolio level experience will prove invaluable as we intend to further advance our strategic advice to clients with interests in a wide range of land use opportunities.”

Crawford Mackay said:

“I’m delighted to be back at Galbraith where I qualified as a surveyor and began my career. The firm’s rural division has grown significantly in recent years based on an expanding client list.

“This is an exciting time to be working in the rural sector. The outlook for rural land and property is positive and values have remained firm throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural land has traditionally performed well as an investment in times of economic uncertainty, and there remain a number of opportunities for diversification such as forestry, renewables and development.

“A number of new and exciting diversification opportunities are also beginning to emerge. With the UK Government committed to achieving a net zero economy by 2050, opportunities exist for carbon sequestration and natural capital projects, which have the potential to provide a valuable income stream. As ever, a sustainable long-term strategy is key to unlocking and making the most of these opportunities.”

Farm sales figures for 2019 reveal that Galbraith sold in excess of £77 million worth of farmland, totaling some 30,000 acres. The firm also sold Scottish estates with a sales value of £13 million in 2019.

From its ten offices across Scotland and three in England, Galbraith manages and provides advice on farm, forestry, land, and estate interests on over 3.5 million acres.

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