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2 Derelict land: Levels and Location

2.1 This section focuses exclusively on derelict land, its levels over the past 6 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 2002-2007, split by local authority. It should be noted that a small number of councils did not participate in every survey between 2002-2007. 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 144 hectares (2 per cent), from 7,724 hectares in 2002 to 7,580 hectares by 2007. Change in levels of recorded derelict land has been much more varied by council. Some have seen much larger relative decreases (for example Inverclyde, down 59 per cent) whereas others have seen increases in levels of derelict land (for example North Ayrshire, up 50 per cent). Some of the larger relative changes for certain councils (for example the Shetland Islands and Eilean Siar) are due to there only being a small base of recorded land in 2002.

Table 4 : Total Derelict land ¹ by local authority area, 2002-2007 ²

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. See Annex Table E for details of council participation in different years.
3. During 2007, historical data for the years 2002-2006 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 2007 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, 2002-2007

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 2007. The net increase of 230 hectares takes Fife from 528 hectares of derelict land in 2002 to 758 hectares by 2007. It is also notable that whereas in 2002, Glasgow City had 241 hectares more of derelict land than Fife, this situation has now reversed to the extent that Fife has 60 hectares more of derelict land than Glasgow City in 2007.

2.6 Of the other 5 councils, the trend in North Lanarkshire has been very stable with a net increase of 8 hectares in derelict land between 2002 and 2007 (increasing from 1,047 hectares to 1,055 hectares). South Lanarkshire has seen the clearest fall in levels of derelict land, a net decrease of 90 hectares (almost a fifth of 2002 levels). Renfrewshire dropped from 799 hectares to 768 hectares (down 31), Highland from 977 hectares to 936 hectares (down 41) and Glasgow City from 769 hectares to 699 hectares (down 70) .

2.7 Table 5 overleaf shows the number, location and average size of derelict sites by local authority in 2007. The average size of a derelict site in Scotland is 4.2 hectares. 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 between 2 and 3 hectares in size). 4,114 hectares of derelict land is currently located within the countryside. This is 54% of total derelict land in Scotland, whereas the remaining 46% (3,465 hectares) is located within a settlement.

2.8 Glasgow City has the largest number of settlement-based derelict sites with 279 recorded in 2007. North Lanarkshire has the highest amount of derelict land recorded within settlements in 2007 (775 hectares). This accounts for 22% of all settlement-based derelict land.

Table 5: Location of derelict sites by local authority and average site size, 2007 ^1,2,3

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. A partial survey was completed for Highland - See Annex A.11
3. Settlements as defined by Local Authorities in their latest council approved local plans (see Annex Section A.5).
4. As a percentage of the total amount of derelict land that is within a settlement in Scotland.
5. As a percentage of the total amount of derelict land that is within the countryside in Scotland.

Chart 3 : Derelict land as a percentage of local authority administrative area, 2007

2.9 North Lanarkshire has the largest number of countryside-based derelict sites with 86 recorded in 2007. Renfrewshire and Highland collectively account for 35% 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 (708 hectares) and Fearn/Fendom Airfields in Highland (collectively 681 hectares)

2.10 Map 1 on page 10 plots all the recorded derelict sites within the central belt area of Scotland in 2007. 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 2007 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 4.0% of Glasgow City's total land area is derelict. The comparative figures for the next highest councils are 2.9% in Renfrewshire, 2.3% in North Lanarkshire, 1.3% in West Lothian and 1.1% in West Dunbartonshire. Across Scotland as a whole, 0.1% of all land is derelict.

2.12 Table 6 and chart 4 (overleaf) show the characteristics of derelict land in Scotland during 2007. Local Authorities were asked to provide this information for the first time in this year's survey. Of Scotland's 1,821 derelict sites recorded in the latest SVDLS, 1,190 were given a characteristic (a response rate of 65%). In terms of land the response rate is higher, with 5,586 out of 7,580 hectares of derelict land given an answer (a response rate of 74%).

2.13 Chart 4 shows that there is a high degree of variation in the characteristics of derelict land (for the 74% of land that has been given an answer). 35% of this derelict land (1,937 hectares and 156 sites) is recorded as having both building remains and possible left-over chemicals/substances. A further 14% of derelict land (773 hectares and 183 sites) is characterised by the remains of abandoned physical material (stone deposits, rubble etc). Whilst accounting for only 11% of characterised derelict land, it is worth noting that the most common derelict characteristic in terms of sites affected is the remains of buildings, with 403 sites recorded as having this as a single characteristic.

Table 6: Derelict Land Characteristics, 2007 ^1,2

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

Chart 4: Derelict Land Characteristics, 2007

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