This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Survey on derelict and vacant land
27/01/2004
Information on derelict and vacant land in Scotland is
published today in the statistical bulletin "Scottish
Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2003". The bulletin
includes annual information on derelict land and vacant
urban land, its location, previous uses, intended and new
uses, contamination status, and the length of time it has
lain vacant or derelict.
The bulletin reports that there has been a decrease in
the amount of derelict land and vacant urban land recorded
in the survey, from 15,400 hectares in 1993 to 10,847
hectares in 2003. This is partly attributable to land
being brought back into productive use, and partly due to
land being removed for definitional reasons or due to
naturalisation.
Of the 10,847 hectares recorded in 2003, 7,741 hectares
were classed as derelict (incapable of beneficial use
without treatment) and 3,107 hectares were classed as
'urban vacant'.
The 2003 survey recorded an overall decrease of 202
hectares compared with the 2002 survey. Vacant urban land
decreased by 175 hectares while derelict land decreased by
26 hectares.
The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2003 shows
that compared with the previous survey:
- 579 hectares of vacant and derelict land were
brought back into productive use. The main new use for
this land was residential development (256
hectares).
- Local authorities identified 269 distinct new sites
accounting for 489 hectares of vacant and derelict
land.
- Local authorities redefined 63 sites (160 hectares)
as no longer coming within the survey's definitions of
vacant and derelict land. A further 26 sites (114
hectares) were removed due to naturalisation.
Where the length of time for which land had lain unused
was known, 21 per cent of vacant and derelict land in urban
areas and 42 per cent of rural derelict land had been
unused since before 1981.
The bulletin is a National Statistics publication. It
has been produced to the high professional standards set
out in the National Statistics Code of Practice and Release
Practice Protocol. These statistics undergo regular
quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer
needs. They are produced free from any political
interference.