This dataset provides a digital boundary for Prime Agricultural Land (otherwise termed "best and most versatile") in Scotland based on an amalgamation of classes 1, 2 and 3.1 of the Land Capability for Agriculture (LCA) maps. The LCA classification is used to rank land on the basis of its potential productivity and cropping flexibility. This is determined by the extent to which the physical characteristics of the land (soil, climate and relief) impose long term restrictions on its use. The source LCA maps are available from the James Hutton Institute at both 1:250,000 (national coverage) and 1:50,000 (partial coverage) scales.This LCA Prime Land boundary has been produced from a hybrid version of the LCA classification which combines the 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 scale datasets. The hybrid dataset uses the more detailed 1:50,000 scale data where it exists in preference to the 1:250,000 scale data as it is seen as the definitive mapped assessment. The majority of prime land boundary is sourced from the 1:50,000 scale mapping, with that sourced from the 1:250,000 map limited to north-west of Montrose, Machrihanish, a small area adjacent to the Black Isle, west of Campbeltown and south of Jedburgh. This prime land dataset should be used in favour of previous versions which only referenced the 1:250,000 scale mapping.The LCA Prime Land boundary supports planners and agricultural officers in assessing cases made for development and determining priorities in relation to retaining areas of high quality agricultural land, i.e. that with a high capacity to produce food.
