5. Previous uses of vacant and derelict land

5.1 The previous uses of vacant and derelict land can be seen in Table 10.

5.2 Where previous use is known, half of derelict land recorded in 1997, had been used for mineral activity (46 per cent), whilst the highest single classification of vacant land, had been used for agriculture (34 per cent). The second most common previous use, where known, for both types of land was manufacturing which includes chemical products, metal works and ship building, this accounts for 17 per cent of derelict land and 12 per cent of vacant land.

5.3 Chart 3 shows the previous uses of vacant and derelict land, ranked by land area.