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6 Derelict and Urban Vacant Land: Previous Uses, Preferred Uses and Other Characteristics

6.1 This section focuses on what the previous uses were for derelict and urban vacant land before it fell out of use. It then shows local authorities' preferred uses for their derelict and urban vacant land. Information is also provided on how long derelict and urban vacant land has lain out of use and how developable that land is.

6.2 The previous uses of derelict and urban vacant sites are shown in Table 10 (overleaf). Former agricultural land should only be included if it is characterised by specific unsightliness or neglect. However, local authorities have explained that in some instances former agricultural land is released for development and is then classed as vacant where either the land is prepared for development or development starts on the land.

6.3 The previous use was unknown for 1,097 hectares of land (6% of the total amount of derelict and 23% of the total amount of urban vacant land recorded in 2006). Where the previous use is known, 27% of derelict land recorded in 2006 had been previously used for mineral activity (1,900 hectares), and a further 25% for defence (1,770 hectares). The most common previous use for urban vacant land, where previous use is known, was agriculture (30%, or 682 hectares) and the second most common previous use was residential development, accounting for 18% of recorded urban vacant land (407 hectares).

6.4 Local authorities were asked to indicate up to three preferred uses for the sites as defined in the most recent local plan or other approved local authority planning policy documents. The distribution of primary preference in shown in table 11. The most popular preferred or intended future uses for derelict land, where known, were other general industry (20%), residential (19%) and defence (11%). For urban vacant land, these were residential (39%), other general industry (17%) and manufacturing (15%).

Table 10: Previous uses of derelict and urban vacant land ¹, 2006 ²

Table 11: Primary preferred or intended uses for derelict or urban vacant sites, 2006 ^1,2

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. 2005 data have been used for the South Ayrshire council area.
3. Excluding manufacturing
4. Excluding passive open space
5. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentages

6.5 Where the length of time a site has lain unused was known, 34% (1,922 hectares) of vacant and derelict land within settlements and 46% (1,768 hectares) of derelict land within the countryside had been unused since before 1986 (Table 12 and Table 13). Taken as a whole, 36% (3,690 hectares) of all vacant and derelict land across Scotland has been lying unused for at least 20 years. There is a large degree of variation at the council level regarding how long vacant and derelict land has been unused for.

Table 12: Sites in Settlements: Date when vacant or derelict ^1-4 land was first identified, by local authority area, 2006

1. Figures are for total urban vacant land in settlements of 2,000 and over and derelict land in all settlements.
2. Settlements as defined by local authorities in their latest council approved local plans (see Annex Section A.6).
3. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
4. 2005 data have been used for the South Ayrshire council area.
5. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentage values.

Table 13: Sites in the Countryside: Date where derelict ^1-3 land was first identified, by local authority area, 2006

1. Figures are for total derelict land in the countryside.
2. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
3. 2005 data have been used for the South Ayrshire council area.
4. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentage values.

Table 14: Development Potential of derelict and urban vacant land, 2006 ^1,2

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentage values.

6.6 Table 14 shows the development potential of derelict and urban vacant land within Scotland. 28% of all derelict land within Scotland (with known development potential) is developable in the short term, compared to 45% of all urban vacant land with known development potential. The higher proportion of urban vacant land being developable in the short term, compared to derelict land, is not surprising given derelict land (by definition) requires some form of rehabilitation before new development can commence. Overall, 33% (a third) of all derelict and urban vacant land within Scotland (with known development potential) is developable in the short term. Across Scotland overall, 15% of derelict land and 6% of urban vacant land is seen by local authorities as being uneconomic to develop and (or) is viewed as suitable to reclaim for a 'soft' end use (i.e. non-built use).

6.7 In 2006, a clear majority of all derelict and urban vacant land with known ownership had a single private owner (63% or 5,583 hectares). 29% or 2,577 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land with known ownership had a single public owner. The remaining 8% of derelict and urban vacant land with known ownership split 5% (454 hectares) mixed public and private ownership, 2% (147 hectares) multiple private owners and 1% (105 hectares) multiple public owners.

6.8 Out of all the 10,386 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in 2006, 15% (1,520 hectares) has unknown ownership.

6.9 The SVDLS allows local authorities to record whether any sites on their register are contaminated. The definition of contamination in the 2006 survey is the same as that which is laid out in Part IIA (Contaminated Land) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Any site which a local authority views as being contaminated in line with this definition (and also has the other characteristics of derelict land, i.e. it has been damaged by previous development and is currently not in use) is likely to appear in this survey. However it does not follow that 'any' site recorded in the survey as derelict would also be contaminated in line with the definition in Part IIA of the 1990 Act. Furthermore the survey is voluntary and thus does not require local authorities to test for contamination of sites. See Annex section A.4 for further information on contamination.

6.10 In 2006, 1% of all derelict and urban vacant land was recorded as being tested and found to be contaminated (21 sites or 132 hectares). 1 site (under 1 hectare in size) was recorded as being tested and found not to be contaminated. The remaining 3,886 sites (totalling 10,254 hectares, or almost 99% of all derelict and urban vacant land) had an unknown response given by local authorities for the presence of contamination.

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