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2 Derelict land: Levels and Location

2.1 This section focuses exclusively on derelict land, its levels over the past 5 years and its location within Scotland. As previously stated, derelict land is land which has been so damaged by development, that it is incapable of development for beneficial use without rehabilitation. 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.

2.2 Table 4 shows the area of recorded derelict land in the years 2002-2006, split by local authority. It should be noted that a small number of councils did not participate in every survey between 2002-2006. In these cases, the most recent available data is used to provide an estimate for the appropriate year.

2.3 Overall , the total amount of derelict land has shown a net decrease of 133 hectares, from 7,614 hectares in 2002 to 7,480 hectares by 2006. During this period, the largest actual decreases in the amount of recorded derelict land occurred in Dumfries & Galloway (down 89 hectares) and Glasgow City (down 78 hectares). The largest actual increases in recorded derelict land occurred in Fife (up 234 hectares) and West Lothian (up 149 hectares).

Table 4 : Total Derelict 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.

Chart 2 : Total Level of Derelict Land in top 6 local authorities, 2002-2006

2.4 Looking at the 6 councils with the most derelict land in 2002, Chart 2 shows the change since 2002 in total levels of derelict land.

2.5 Out of the 6 councils shown in Chart 2, Fife is notable as the only one which has had a clear increase recorded in its amount of derelict land between 2002 and 2006. The net increase of 234 hectares takes Fife from 529 hectares of derelict land in 2002 to 762 hectares by 2006. It is also notable that whereas in 2002, Glasgow City had 240 hectares more of derelict land than Fife, this situation has now reversed to the extent that Fife has 71 hectares more of derelict land than Glasgow City by 2006.

2.6 The other 5 councils all show less recorded derelict land in 2006 than 2002. In North Lanarkshire's case the trend has been very stable with only a net decrease of 9 hectares in derelict land between 2002 and 2006 (dropping from 996 hectares to 987 hectares). Actual decreases in derelict land during the 2002-2006 period were larger in the other 4 councils. Renfrewshire dropped from 823 hectares to 786 hectares (down 37), Highland from 965 hectares to 907 hectares (down 58), South Lanarkshire from 467 hectares to 393 hectares (down 75) and Glasgow City from 769 hectares to 691 hectares (down 78).

2.7 Table 5 overleaf shows the number, location and average site size of derelict sites by local authority in 2006. The average size of a derelict site in Scotland is 4.2 hectares in 2006. 73% of all Scotland's derelict sites are to be found within a settlement. The remaining 27% are within the countryside. Whilst a clear majority of derelict sites are located within settlements, there is actually more derelict land outside of settlements (in the countryside) than within. This is because the average size of a countryside site exceeds 8 hectares, which is over 3 times greater than the average size of a settlement-based derelict site (averaging a little over 2 hectares in size). 4,011 hectares of derelict land is currently located within the countryside. This is 54% of total derelict land in Scotland, whereas the remaining 46% (3,470 hectares) is located within a settlement.

2.8 Glasgow City has the largest number of settlement-based derelict sites with 270 recorded in 2006. North Lanarkshire has the highest amount of derelict land recorded within settlements in 2006 (731 hectares). This accounts for 21% of all settlement-based derelict land.

Table 5: Location of derelict sites by local authority and average site size, 2006 ^1,2,3

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. 2005 Data has been used for the South Ayrshire council area.
3. Settlements as defined by Local Authorities in their latest council approved local plans (see Annex Section A.6).
4. As a percentage of the total amount of derelict land that is within settlements of 2,000+ population in Scotland.
5. As a percentage of the total amount of derelict land that is within the countryside in Scotland.

Map 1

Chart 3 : Derelict land as a percentage of local authority administrative area, 2006

2.9 North Lanarkshire has the largest number of countryside-based derelict sites with 80 recorded in 2006. Renfrewshire and Highland collectively account for 36% of all countryside-based derelict land. This is due mainly to the presence of some very large derelict sites, namely the previously mentioned Former Royal Ordnance site at Bishopton (732 hectares) and Fearn/Fendom Airfields in Highland (collectively 665 hectares)

2.10 Map 1 on page 10 plots all the recorded derelict sites within the central belt area of Scotland in 2006. Whilst the sites are relatively scattered throughout the central belt, more sites are visible in the western part than the east. Some clusters can also clearly be seen, including along the north bank of the River Clyde (in West Dunbartonshire), the south bank of the Firth of Clyde (Inverclyde) as well as in eastern and northern parts of Glasgow City and the Kilbirnie/Dalry area of North Ayrshire. Map 1 also highlights that a clear majority of the derelict sites recorded in Scotland for the 2006 SVDLS were located within settlements (urban areas).

2.11 Chart 3 above shows the ten councils with the highest percentage of derelict land in relation to their administrative area. The figures for all councils can be found in Annex Table C. Approximately 3.9% of Glasgow City's total land area is derelict. The comparative figures for the next highest councils are 3.0% in Renfrewshire, 2.1% in North Lanarkshire, 1.4% in West Lothian and 1.1% in West Dunbartonshire. Across Scotland as a whole, 0.1% of all land is derelict.

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