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Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2004
1 Introduction and summary
1.1 This bulletin presents a summary of the results from the 2004 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS). It is the fourteenth survey in the series including the pilot study in 1988, the first completed survey in 1990, and enhanced surveys conducted annually since 1993. The survey is the only national data source for vacant and derelict land. The survey covers vacant land in, or close to, urban areas and derelict land throughout Scotland, subject to agreed exclusions and to interpretation by those carrying out the survey (see Annex A.10 for note about areas surveyed in Highland).
1.2 The survey is a co-operative effort between local authorities and the Scottish Executive Development Department. Where data were not provided in 2004 by some local authorities, data from previous surveys were carried forward to provide a best estimate. Such cases are indicated in the tables, and Annex Table C shows annual participation rates by local authorities since 1994.
1.3 The following main points emerge from the 2004 survey:
- There were 10,661 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the 2004 survey, of which 3,023 hectares were urban vacant and 7,638 hectares were derelict.
- Since 1993, there has been a decrease in the amount of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the survey, from 15,400 hectares to 10,661 hectares in 2004. 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.
- The 2004 survey recorded an overall decrease of 186 hectares since 2003. The area of urban vacant land decreased by 84 hectares and derelict land decreased by 103 hectares.
- 378 sites (466 ha) were reclaimed or brought back into use and a further 47 sites (173 ha) redefined as no longer vacant or derelict. 289 distinct new sites (410 ha) were added and existing sites increased by approximately 40 hectares since the last survey.
- North Lanarkshire, Glasgow City, Highland and Renfrewshire together contain 45 per cent of recorded derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland.
- Where the length of time for which land had lain unused was known, 21 per cent of urban vacant and derelict land and 42 per cent of rural derelict land had been unused since before 1981.
- The most common new use for urban vacant and derelict land brought back into use since the previous survey was residential development (61 per cent).
Chart 1: Derelict and Urban Vacant land by local authority, 2004
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