The Scottish Government

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1 Introduction and Summary

1.1 This bulletin presents a summary of results from the 2006 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey ( SVDLS). It is the sixteenth survey in a series including the first 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.

1.2 The survey is a co-operative effort between local authorities and the Scottish Executive Development Department. Where data was not provided in 2006 by one local authority, data from the previous survey was 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 1996.

1.3 During the collection of the 2006 survey, previous survey returns for the years 2002 to 2005 were revised to remove sites that had been taken out of the survey for definitional reasons. Other previous errors highlighted in the 2006 survey returns were also corrected. This process allows for improved time series analysis within this bulletin. Further information is available in Annex A.5, along with unrevised historical data for 1996 to 2001.

1.4 The following main points emerge from the 2006 survey:

• There were 10,386 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the 2006 survey, of which 2,905 hectares (28%) were urban vacant and 7,480 hectares were derelict (72%).
• Since 2002, there has been a decrease of 210 hectares in the total amount of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the survey, from 10,596 hectares in 2002 to 10,386 hectares in 2006. This is attributable to land being brought back into productive use or being removed due to naturalisation.
• Since 2002, an average of 611 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land was brought back into use each year. The 2006 survey recorded 557 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land being reused since 2005.
• The local authority with the highest amount of recorded derelict and urban vacant land is North Lanarkshire, containing 1,331 hectares (13% of Scotland total). Glasgow City has the second highest amount with 1,286 hectares (12% of Scotland total). Highland is third with 1,058 hectares (10%).
• 27% of Scotland's population is estimated to live within 500m of a derelict site in 2006. The local authorities with the highest proportion of their population living within 500m of derelict land are Glasgow City (57%), Midlothian (52%) and West Dunbartonshire (51%).

Chart 1: Derelict and Urban Vacant land by local authority, 2006

1.5 The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey ( SVDLS) is an annual survey undertaken to establish the extent and state of vacant and derelict land in Scotland and the amount of land that has been reclaimed since the previous survey. While not all local authorities participate fully, the vast majority of central belt and urban areas provide data every year (recently response rates have improved with 31 of Scotland's 32 local authorities providing a survey response in 2005 and 2006). The main purpose of the survey is to provide a national data source to inform the programming of the rehabilitation, planning and reuse of urban vacant and derelict sites.

1.6 Vacant land is land which is unused for the purposes for which it is held and is viewed as an appropriate site for development. This land must either have had prior development on it or preparatory work has taken place in anticipation of future development. The main part of this bulletin covers vacant land (referred to as 'urban vacant') that is located within settlements of over 2,000 in population (as defined in council local plans, see Annex Section A.6). Some local authorities have also surveyed for vacant land within settlements of under 2,000 in population. Further information on those results can be found in Annex Table B.

Table 1: Derelict and urban vacant land ¹ by local authority area, 2006

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. As a percentage of the total vacant/derelict land recorded in Scotland
3. 2005 data have been used for South Ayrshire council area.

1.7 Derelict land (and buildings) is land which has been so damaged by development, that it is incapable of development for beneficial use without rehabilitation. In addition the land must currently not be used for the purpose for which it is held or a use acceptable in the local plan. Land also qualifies as derelict if it has an unremedied previous use which could constrain future development. For urban vacant and derelict land, site records must be at least 0.1 hectares in size to be included.

1.8 Table 1 shows that in 2006 there were 10,386 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land, of which 72% was classified as derelict (7,480 hectares). 5 councils; North Lanarkshire, Glasgow City, Highland, Renfrewshire and Fife together contain 53% of all recorded derelict and urban vacant land.

1.9 3,908 sites were recorded in the 2006 survey. The 10 largest sites in Scotland collectively account for 23% of all recorded derelict and urban vacant land. Those 10 sites (all of which are derelict) include the Former Royal Ordnance site at Bishopton, Renfrewshire (732 hectares), Fearn and Fendom Airfields in Highland (collectively 665 hectares) and Ravenscraig East and West sites in North Lanarkshire (271 hectares).

1.10 The distribution of derelict and urban vacant land by Local Enterprise Company ( LEC) area is shown in Table 2. The 4 Local Enterprise Company areas with the highest levels of derelict and urban vacant land are Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire (1,845 hectares), Scottish Enterprise Glasgow (1,286 hectares), Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian (1,201 hectares) and Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire (1,167 hectares).

1.11 Table 2 also shows the amount of urban vacant and derelict land located within Scotland's National Parks. 23 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land lies within a National Park (18 hectares in Cairngorms and 5 hectares in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs).

Table 2: Derelict and urban vacant land ¹ by Local Enterprise Company area, 2006 ² Derelict and urban vacant land ¹ located within Scotland's National Parks, 2006

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. 2005 data has been used for the South Ayrshire council area.

1.12 Table 3 shows the area of recorded derelict and urban vacant land in the years 2002-2006. It should be noted that a small number of councils did not participate in every survey during those years. In these cases, the most recent available data is used to provide an estimate for the appropriate year.

1.13 The period covered by the most recent survey (2006) showed a net decrease of 103 hectares in Scotland's total amount of derelict and urban vacant land, from 10,489 hectares in 2005 to 10,386 hectares in 2006. This follows a small increase of 12 hectares in derelict and urban vacant land, recorded in 2005.

1.14 Overall, the total amount of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland has shown a net decrease of 210 hectares, from 10,596 hectares in 2002 to 10,386 hectares in 2006. The change in the recorded amount of derelict and urban vacant land during 2002-2006 is more varied by council. The largest actual decreases in the amount of land were recorded in North Lanarkshire (down 157 hectares), South Lanarkshire (down 120 hectares) and Highland (down 116 hectares). Although the overall trend was downward, 11 councils have more recorded derelict and urban vacant land in 2006 than 2002. The largest actual increases occurred in Fife (up 267 hectares), West Lothian (up 141 hectares) and North Ayrshire (up 126 hectares).

Table 3: Total Derelict and Urban Vacant land ¹ by local authority area, 2002-2006 ²

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. See Annex Table E for details of council participation in different years.
3. During 2006, historical data for the years 2002-2005 was revised to remove sites that had been taken out of the survey for definitional reasons and to correct any other previous errors highlighted in the 2006 survey returns. Further information on this process is available in the Annex along with unamended historical data for the survey years of 1996-2001.

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