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GUIDANCE NOTES

DERELICT LAND (URBAN AND RURAL)

1.1 Derelict land (and buildings) is land which has been so damaged by development or use that it is incapable of development for beneficial use without rehabilitation, and which is not being used either for the purpose for which it is held or for use acceptable in the local plan. A site should be treated as derelict even if treatment is required only for the buildings thereon. All sites where contamination is known or suspected are classed as derelict.

1.2 Derelict sites which are operational should be spilt into their operational and obsolete parts if possible. Where this is not possible then please assess whether priority is given to the operational use or site rehabilitation within 5 years, and include in the survey if the priority is to site rehabilitation.

1.3 Industrial Sites Register (ISR) or Housing Land Annual Return (HLAR) sites if derelict should be included in the SVLS (see also 2.3(I)).

1.4 See also 2.2 (vi) about Area Renewal Sites and 2.3 (iii) about part vacant/part derelict sites.

1.5 Do not include:

i. sites which cover less than 0.1 hectare. However, if several small contiguous redevelopment/refurbishment purposes, then a SINGLE combined entry for the aggregated area may be made, provided that this is as least 0.1 hectare;

ii. operational sites where rehabilitation would not be possible or appropriate within five years;

iii. land which is derelict through natural causes (for example neglected woodland/farmland) and which appears to have blended into the landscape.

VACANT LAND (URBAN)

2.1 Vacant land is land either in urban settlements (with a population of 2,000 or more) or within one kilometre of the edge of such settlements, which would not be commonly considered as having the characteristics of urban vacant land, (eg some combination of factors generally including being unused or unsightly or land which would benefit from development or improvement etc.)

2.2 Aids to interpretation:

i. Agricultural Land: do not include land within the curtilage of an agricultural holding as vacant (even if it is set aside, fallow or unsightly)

ii. Countryside/Urban Fringe Land within 1 km of Settlement: do not include areas of countryside or abandoned farmland as vacant. However specific unsightliness or neglect associated with former urban or industrial activity or severe concentrations of tipping would be classified as vacant. If classification is in doubt, do not include as vacant.

iii. Future Development of Agricultural Land/Countryside within 1 km of Settlement: where agricultural land or countryside is identified for further development, (eg a greenfield release for housing, industry), do not include as vacant. Such land will generally remain outwith the scope of the vacant land exercise altogether. However, if development proceeds, pockets of such land might be judged as vacant if they become unsightly and/or remain undeveloped within the new urban envelope, ie if they take on the characteristics of urban vacant land.

iv. Open Space within the Built Up Area: operational open space is clearly not vacant but the distinction between passive open space, incidental open space and vacant land has proved problematic. Does it appear to be planned as open space? Is there knowledge of any actual or notional maintenance regime? If yes to the above, then the site is not vacant. If there is doubt as between ‘vacant’ or ‘open space’ give open space the benefit of the doubt, ie the site is not vacant. However where land has been treated and prepared for development, eg for industry, include as vacant even if it functions temporarily as open space.

v. Future Development of Open Space: open space remains not vacant even where identified for development and should not be included in the survey unless or until it has acquired the characteristics of urban vacant land.

vi. Area Renewal Sites* (renewal of public sector housing estates): should be included and defined as vacant only after demolition has started. The site boundary should be based on the area for intended redevelopment which may encompass old roads, incidental open space etc but should be defined as to exclude any occupied buildings or buildings whose demolition is not certain.

*Area Renewal specifically refers to the renewal of public sector housing estates and is to be distinguished from the normal process of urban regeneration. It is identified as a special case because of its prevalence in the major urban areas and the need to simplify and clarify how it should be classified for this survey.

2.3 Other matters:

i. Industrial Sites Register (ISR) or Housing Land Annual Return (HLAR) sites if vacant should be included in the SVLS.

ii. Where development has been started, then abandoned, the likelihood of completion and the state of dereliction/unsightliness will be considerations in deciding whether the site should be classified as vacant, derelict or neither.

iii. A site which is part vacant and part derelict should be included as derelict.

2.4 Do not include:

i. sites which cover less than 0.1 hectare. However, if several small contiguous sites of less than 0.1 ha are regarded as a single site for development/refurbishment purposes, then a SINGLE combined entry for the aggregated area may be made, provided that this is at least 0.1 ha.

ii. land held for operational needs (for example railways, and mineral workings).

iii. saltings, marshes or such like.

LAND BROUGHT BACK INTO USE/RECLAIMED SINCE LAST SURVEY

3.1 Information is also sought on form SVLS/B about:

i. the amount of vacant land which has been brought back into use since the last survey.

ii. the reclamation of derelict land since the last survey.

iii. land taken out of the survey for definitional reasons.

SCOTTISH VACANT AND DERELICT LAND SURVEY - DATA PROTOCOL

1. The SVDLS data for each local authority area is owned by the originating local authority which has responsibility for its content, accuracy, maintenance and update.

2. The Scottish Office, Scottish Enterprise National, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Local Enterprise Companies will refer requests for SVDLS site specific data to the respective local authority.

3. The Scottish Office hold a full set of the data for their internal use, for managing the survey and national monitoring purposes.

4. Scottish Enterprise National and Highlands & Islands Enterprise hold data for internal use.

5. The Scottish Office may publish aggregated data (defined as data from which site specific information cannot be disclosed).

6. Scottish Enterprise National and Highlands & Islands Enterprise may provide Local Enterprise Companies with data at an aggregated level.

7. Local authorities will make their own individual arrangements to provide Local Enterprise Companies, Scottish Enterprise National and other agencies with data. Exceptionally they may have to refuse the request for reasons of confidentiality. Agencies in receipt of data should respect its confidential nature.

8. If a Local Enterprise Company or SEN/HIE have information which would help the local authority to update or complete the SVDLS they will supply it. Exceptionally they may be unable to provide the data for reasons of confidentiality.

9. Confidential data from statistical enquiries will be handled in accordance with the Government Statistical Service Code of Practice, and with the Data Protection Act. January 1996.

Additional copies of this bulletin may be obtained from:

The Stationery Office Bookshop
71 Lothian Road
Edinburgh
EH3 9AZ
Telephone (direct line): 0131 479 3141

Any enquiries about this bulletin should be made to:

Alasdair McIntosh
Economic Advice and Statistics
Scottish Office Development Department
1-G10
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

Telephone (direct line): 0131 244 0442

THE SCOTTISH OFFICE STATISTICAL SERVICES

This Statement outlines our commitment to those who supply us with information, and those who use the information we supply

Our role and aims
Our role is to collect and analyse statistics on most aspects of Scottish life, to provide statistics and statistical advice to Scottish Office Ministers and Civil Servants, and to make statistics available to Parliament and the public - e.g. through statistical publications.

Our aims are:-
• To provide a timely and cost-effective statistical service.
• To maintain the integrity and validity of the statistics, by ensuring that they are accurate, and not presented in any way which is misleading
• To improve the quality and relevance of the statistics, taking account of the needs and priorities of users.
• To minimise the burden on data suppliers.

Our commitment to data suppliers
Confidentiality: Confidential data from statistical enquiries will be handled in accordance with the Government Statistical Service Code of Practice, and with the Data Protection Act.
Burden: Information will not be collected unnecessarily - but only when there is a clearly identified need. Only the minimum amount of information will be collected to meet this need.
Review of data collection: Data collections will be reviewed regularly to ensure that the information is still required, and that the collection system is operating cost-effectively. These reviews will be conducted in conjunction with both users and suppliers of the data.
Liaison: Close liaison will be maintained with major suppliers of statistical data (e.g. local authorities), by a system of liaison committees.
Feedback: Arrangements for major data suppliers to have access to the data (subject to confidentiality constraints) at no, or reduced cost, will be handled in the liaison committees or by direct consultation.

Our commitment to users
Accuracy: Standards of accuracy will be maintained by comprehensive checking and vetting of data at all stages.
Openness: We will be completely open about our methods of collecting and processing data, and about the methodology used in public analyses.
Release: The statistical totals we produce will be available for publication, subject only to protecting confidentiality, and provided that the figures are sufficiently reliable.
Guides: Regularly up-dated information leaflets on Scottish Office statistical publications will be produced: copies are normally distributed with statistical bulletins, or can be obtained free of charge from the address for general enquiries given below.
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Correspondence and enquiries
Enquiries regarding this bulletin and others in Advice on other Scottish Office statistical
the environment series should be addressed to:- publications can be obtained from:-

Alasdair McIntosh	Fiona Watt
The Scottish Office Development Department	The Scottish Office Development Department
Economic Advice and Statistics	Economic Advice and Statistics
1-G10 Victoria Quay	1-G10 Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ	EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ
Telephone: 0131 244 0442	Telephone: 0131 244 0443
Fax 0131 244 0446	Fax 0131 244 0446
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If you are not satisfied with our service, please write to the Chief Statistician, Mr Colin MacLean (Room 1-A75 at the above address, telephone 0131 244 0302). We also welcome any comments or suggestions that would help us improve our standards of service.

Requests/correspondence will be given either a substantive reply within 7 working days, or an acknowledgement to be followed up (by a stated date) with a substantive reply.