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Statistical Bulletin ENV/2004/1 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2003
5 Previous uses of derelict and urban vacant land
5.1 The previous uses of derelict and urban vacant land sites are shown in Table 10. In the SVDLS guidance notes, it is made clear that former agricultural land should not be included unless it is characterised by specific unsightliness or neglect. It has been noted in the past that there is a large amount of land included where the previous use was agriculture. Local Authorities have explained that in some instances former agricultural land is released for development and is then classed as vacant when either the land is prepared for development or development starts on the land.
Table 10: Previous uses of derelict and urban vacant sites 1, 2003 2
Previous Use | Derelict Land | Urban Vacant Land | Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land |
Area (ha) | % of Derelict Land (by Area) | No. of Sites | Area (ha) | % of Urban Vacant Land (by Area) | No. of Sites | Area (ha) | % of Total V&D Land (by Area) | No. of Sites |
Agriculture | 196 | 3 | 114 | 612 | 25 | 278 | 807 | 8 | 392 |
Business Class | 20 | * | 7 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 35 | * | 18 |
Community & Health | 382 | 5 | 82 | 245 | 10 | 80 | 627 | 6 | 162 |
Defence | 1,969 | 27 | 39 | 49 | 2 | 19 | 2,018 | 21 | 58 |
Education | 40 | 1 | 26 | 124 | 5 | 64 | 164 | 2 | 90 |
Forestry/Woodland | 17 | * | 12 | 9 | * | 8 | 27 | * | 20 |
Manufacturing | 1,387 | 19 | 280 | 229 | 9 | 120 | 1,616 | 17 | 400 |
Mineral Activity | 1,958 | 27 | 267 | 57 | 2 | 14 | 2,016 | 21 | 281 |
Nature Conservation | 11 | * | 1 | - | - | - | 11 | * | 1 |
Offices | 3 | * | 8 | 2 | * | 10 | 5 | * | 18 |
Other General Industry 3 | 127 | 2 | 102 | 137 | 6 | 138 | 264 | 3 | 240 |
Passive Open Space | 32 | * | 32 | 148 | 6 | 111 | 180 | 2 | 143 |
Recreation & Leisure 4 | 111 | 2 | 59 | 68 | 3 | 70 | 179 | 2 | 129 |
Residential | 120 | 2 | 188 | 376 | 16 | 492 | 497 | 5 | 680 |
Retailing | 20 | * | 41 | 17 | 1 | 37 | 37 | * | 78 |
Storage | 168 | 2 | 83 | 42 | 2 | 56 | 210 | 2 | 139 |
Transport | 418 | 6 | 181 | 90 | 4 | 79 | 508 | 5 | 260 |
Utility Services | 93 | 1 | 23 | 37 | 2 | 28 | 130 | 1 | 51 |
Wholesale Distribution | 2 | * | 1 | 11 | * | 6 | 13 | * | 7 |
Other | 190 | 3 | 80 | 152 | 6 | 123 | 342 | 4 | 203 |
Unknown 5 | 475 | - | 249 | 687 | - | 603 | 1,162 | - | 852 |
Total | 7,741 | 100 | 1,875 | 3,107 | 100 | 2,347 | 10,847 | 100 | 4,222 |
1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. 2002 data have been used for the following council areas: Argyll and Bute, Moray, Scottish Borders and the Shetland Islands.
3. Excluding manufacturing
4. Excluding passive space
5. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentages
5.2 The previous use was unknown for 1,162 hectares of land (7 per cent of the total amount of derelict and 20 per cent of the total amount of urban vacant land recorded in 2003). Where the previous use is known, 27 per cent of derelict land recorded in 2003 had formerly been used for defence (1,969 hectares) closely followed by mineral activity, also accounting for 27 per cent of recorded derelict land (1,958 hectares). The most common previous use for recorded urban vacant land, where previous use is known, was for agriculture (25 per cent, or 612 hectares) and the second most common previous use was for residential development, accounting for 16 per cent of recorded urban vacant land (376 hectares).
5.3 Chart 4 shows the 20 most common previous uses of derelict and urban vacant land, ranked by area.
Chart 4: Previous uses of derelict and urban vacant land, 2003 1
1. 2002 data have been used for the following councils: Argyll and Bute, Moray, Scottish Borders and the Shetland Islands.
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