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1 Introduction and summary
1.1 This bulletin presents a summary of the results from the 2005 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey ( SVDLS). It is the fifteenth 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 (hence referred to as 'urban vacant') located within settlements (as defined in local plans, see Annex section A.7) and derelict land throughout Scotland, subject to agreed exclusions and to interpretation by those carrying out the survey (see Annex section A.11 for note about areas surveyed in Highland council area).
1.2 The survey is a co-operative effort between local authorities and the Scottish Executive Development Department. Where data were not provided in 2005 by one local authority, data from the previous survey were carried forward to provide a best estimate. Such cases are indicated in the tables, and Annex Table E shows annual participation rates by local authorities since 1995.
1.3 The following main points emerge from the 2005 survey:
There were 10,570 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the 2005 survey, of which 2,973 hectares were urban vacant and 7,597 hectares were derelict.
Over the past 10 years there has been a decrease in the amount of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the survey, from 13,571 hectares in 1995 to 10,570 hectares in 2005. 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 2005 survey recorded an overall increase of 41 hectares compared with 2004. The area of urban vacant land increased by 82 hectares and derelict land decreased by 41 hectares.
498 sites (735 ha) were reclaimed or brought back into use and a further 31 sites (23 ha) redefined as no longer vacant or derelict. 362 distinct new sites (716 ha) were added and existing sites increased by approximately 71 hectares since the last survey.
The local authority with the highest amount of recorded derelict and urban vacant land is North Lanarkshire, containing 1,315 hectares (12% of Scotland total). Glasgow City has the second highest amount with 1,313 hectares (also 12% of Scotland total). Highland is third with 1,128 hectares (11%).
Where the length of time for which land had lain unused was known, 18 per cent of vacant and derelict land within settlements and 40 per cent of derelict land within the countryside 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 (43 per cent).
Chart 1: Derelict and Urban Vacant land by local authority, 2005
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