After subsection (1) of section 25 of the 1993 Act (provisions supplementary to section 24(3)) insert—
“(1A)In determining whether they are satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above (and, in particular, whether the reasonable purpose mentioned there relates to the public interest), the Commission—
(a)may take into account the effect that purpose (whether alone or in conjunction with other considerations) would have on the matters mentioned in subsection (1B) below; and
(b)where the purpose is, or is connected with, the development of the croft in respect of which planning permission subsists, may take into account the effect such development would have on the croft, the estate and the crofting community in the locality of the croft,
and must give the direction, or refuse to grant the application for it, accordingly.
(1B)The matters mentioned in subsection (1A)(a) above are—
(a)the sustainability of—
(i)crofting in the locality of the croft or such other area in which crofting is carried on as appears to the Commission to be relevant;
(ii)the crofting community in that locality or the communities in such an area;
(iii)the landscape of that locality or such an area;
(iv)the environment of that locality or such an area;
(b)the social and cultural benefits associated with crofting.
(1C)In subsection (1A) above—
“development” has the meaning given by section 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c.8);
“planning permission” is to be construed in accordance with Part 3 of that Act;
“effect” includes both a positive and negative effect.”.