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3 Derelict land: Levels and Location

3.1 This section focuses exclusively on derelict land, its levels over the past 7 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.

3.2 Table 4 shows the area of recorded derelict land in the years 2002-2008, split by local authority. It should be noted that a small number of councils did not participate in every survey between 2002-2008. In these cases, the most recent available data is used to provide an estimate for the appropriate year.

3.3 Overall , the total amount of derelict land has shown a net increase of 475 hectares (6%), from 7,728 hectares in 2002 to 8,203 hectares by 2008. This increase is largely driven by the increase in North Ayrshire (297%), but changes in levels of recorded derelict land have been extremely varied across Scotland. Some councils have seen large relative decreases (for example Inverclyde, down 62%) whereas others have seen increases in levels of derelict land (for example Scottish Borders, up 94%). 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, 2002-2008 ²

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding
2. See Annex Table E for details of council participation in different years.
3. During 2008, historical data for the years 2002-2007 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, 2002-2008

3.4 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.

3.5 Out of the 6 councils shown in Chart 2, North Ayrshire has had the most obvious increase in its amount of derelict land since 2002, from 270 hectares to 1,071 hectares in 2008. This is largely attributable to a small number of very large sites becoming derelict in 2006. Fife has also had a significant increase in the area of derelict land since 2002, although after increasing from 528 hectares to 760 hectares in 2006, it has declined to 726 hectares this year.

3.6 Of the other councils, the trend in North Lanarkshire has been very stable with a net increase of 16 hectares in derelict land between 2002 and 2008 (increasing from 1,048 hectares to 1,064 hectares). South Lanarkshire has seen the clearest fall in levels of derelict land, a net decrease of 77 hectares (a sixth of 2002 levels). Renfrewshire dropped from 798 hectares to 764 hectares (down 34), Highland from 977 hectares to 949 hectares (down 28) and Glasgow City from 767 hectares to 719 hectares (down 48).

3.7 Table 5 overleaf shows the number, location and average size of derelict sites by local authority in 2008. The average size of a derelict site in Scotland is 4.3 hectares. 74% of all Scotland's derelict sites are to be found within a settlement. The remaining 26% 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 9 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). 4,648 hectares of derelict land is currently located within the countryside. This is 57% of total derelict land in Scotland, whereas the remaining 43% (3,555 hectares) is located within a settlement.

3.8 Glasgow City has the largest number of settlement-based derelict sites with 308 recorded in 2008. North Lanarkshire has the highest amount of derelict land recorded within settlements in 2008 (790 hectares). This accounts for 22% of all settlement-based derelict land.

Table 5: Location of derelict sites by local authority and average site size, 2008 ^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, 2008

3.9 North Lanarkshire has the largest number of countryside-based derelict sites with 86 recorded in 2008. North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Highland collectively account for 48% 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), the Ardeer sites in North Ayrshire (645 hectares) and Fearn/Fendom Airfields in Highland (collectively 681 hectares).

3.10 The map on page 11 plots all the recorded derelict sites within the central belt area of Scotland in 2008. 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. The map also highlights that a clear majority of the derelict sites recorded in Scotland for the 2008 SVDLS were located within urban areas.

3.11 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 1.2% in North Ayrshire. Across Scotland as a whole, 0.1% of all land is derelict.

3.12 Table 6 and chart 4 (overleaf) show the characteristics of derelict land in Scotland during 2008. Local Authorities were asked to provide this information for the second time in this year's survey. Of Scotland's 1,899 derelict sites recorded in the latest SVDLS, 1,296 were given a characteristic (a response rate of 68%, improved from last year's 65%). In terms of land the response rate is higher, with 6,287 out of 8,203 hectares of derelict land given an answer (a response rate of 77%, an increase on last year's 74%).

3.13 Chart 4 shows that there is a high degree of variation in the characteristics of derelict land (for the 77% of land that has been given an answer). 32% of this derelict land (2,000 hectares and 167 sites) is recorded as having both building remains and possible left over chemicals/substances. A further 17% of derelict land (865 hectares and 109 sites) is characterised by a mixture of building remains, possible left over chemicals/substances and 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 461 sites recorded as having this as a single characteristic. It should be noted that there is potential for a lot of overlap in these categories, so the results should be treated with some caution.

Table 6: Derelict Land Characteristics, 2008 ^1,2

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

Chart 4: Derelict Land With Known Characteristics, 2008

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