Statistical Bulletin ENV/2000/1 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land survey 1999: page 2


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Statistical Bulletin ENV/2000/1 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 1999

2.Vacant and derelict land

Table 1: Vacant and derelict land¹ by local authority area 1999

Local Authority	Derelict Land			Vacant Land			Total Vacant and Derelict Land
Local Authority	Area (ha)	% of Area	No. of Sites	Area (ha)	% of Area	No. of Sites	Area (ha)	% of Area	No. of Sites
North Lanarkshire	1,335	18	344	686	15	250	2,021	17	594
Glasgow City	831	11	289	737	16	675	1,568	13	964
West Lothian	766	10	101	456	10	77	1,222	10	178
Fife	772	10	96	203	4	50	975	8	146
Highland²	315	4	233	498	11	276	813	7	509
South Lanarkshire	486	7	139	203	4	156	689	6	295
East Ayrshire	400	5	72	77	2	77	477	4	149
North Ayrshire	245	3	93	168	4	115	414	3	208
Renfrewshire	242	3	51	171	4	108	413	3	159
Midlothian	342	5	108	52	1	30	394	3	138
Dumfries & Galloway	303	4	32	61	1	30	364	3	62
Dundee City	74	1	28	257	6	167	331	3	195
Angus	227	3	39	29	1	24	257	2	63
West Dunbartonshire	117	2	39	113	2	94	230	2	133
Stirling	146	2	27	73	2	36	219	2	63
Falkirk	103	1	40	101	2	89	204	2	129
Perth & Kinross	101	1	23	73	2	18	174	1	41
Aberdeenshire	93	1	28	59	1	41	152	1	69
South Ayrshire⁴	28	*	18	123	3	37	152	1	55
Aberdeen City	68	1	25	71	2	49	139	1	74
Inverclyde	65	1	45	58	1	78	123	1	123
Edinburgh, City of	68	1	23	54	1	37	122	1	60
East Lothian	80	1	38	26	1	29	106	1	67
East Dunbartonshire	64	1	18	36	1	21	100	1	39
Scottish Borders	48	1	45	31	1	51	79	1	96
Clackmannanshire	36	*	16	28	1	16	63	1	32
Argyll & Bute⁴	17	*	21	38	1	54	55	*	75
Moray³	34	*	36	6	*	11	41	*	47
Orkney Islands	12	*	14	25	1	24	38	*	38
East Renfrewshire	13	*	3	24	1	28	37	*	31
Eilean Siar	1	*	2	10	*	7	11	*	9
Shetland Islands	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Scotland	7,433	100	2,086	4,549	100	2,755	11,982	100	4,841

1 Figures may not sum due to rounding
2 1998 data have been used for these authorities (Argyll & Bute and South Ayrshire)
3 1993 data have been used for this authority (Highland)
4 1996 data have been used for this authority (Moray)

2.1 The survey covers vacant land in, or close to, urban areas and derelict land in both urban and rural areas, subject to agreed exclusions and to interpretation by those carrying out the survey. Sites covering less than 0.1 hectare are excluded unless a group of adjacent sites exceeds 0.1 hectare and can be counted as a single contiguous site. The forms used for recording site information are shown in the Annex.

2.2 Derelict land (and buildings) is that which has been so damaged by development or use that it is incapable of being developed for beneficial use without rehabilitation, and which is not being used for either the purpose for which it is held, or for a use acceptable in a local plan. The main exceptions are operational sites where rehabilitation would not be possible or appropriate within 5 years, and land which is derelict through natural causes (for example neglected woodland or farmland) and which appears to have blended into the landscape. All sites where contamination is known or suspected are classed as derelict.

2.3 Vacant land is located in urban settlements (defined here as posessing a population of 2,000 or more) or within one kilometre of the edge of such settlements which is considered to display the characteristics of urban vacant land; that is, land which is unused or unsightly, or which would benefit from development or improvement. The main exceptions to this definition are for land held for operational needs, agricultural land, urban fringe land and open space within the built up area, even where these offer the prospects of future development. Full details of the definitions are given in the Annex.

Vacant and derelict land by council

2.4 Table 1 shows than in 1999 there were 11,982 hectares of vacant and derelict land, of which 62 per cent was classified as derelict (7,433 hectares). Four councils, North Lanarkshire, Glasgow City, West Lothian and Fife together contain 48 per cent of the recorded vacant and derelict land.

Derelict Land

2.5 Chart 2 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 A.

Chart 2: Derelict land as a percentage of local authority administrative area, 1999

Chart 2

2.6 Approximately 4.8 per cent of Glasgow City’s and 2.8 per cent of North Lanarkshire’s land area is recorded as derelict. Together, they account for 29.1 per cent of all recorded derelict land in Scotland.

Vacant Land

2.7 Chart 3 shows the ten councils with the highest percentage of vacant land in relation to their administrative area. It should be noted that the survey definition of vacant land excludes most of the land area in non-urban local authorities.

Chart 3: Vacant land as a percentage of local authority administrative area, 1999

Chart 3

2.8 Approximately 4.2 per cent of Glasgow City’s and 4.0 per cent of Dundee City’s land area is recorded as vacant. Together, they account for 21.9 per cent of all recorded vacant land in Scotland.

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Statistical Bulletin ENV/2000/1 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 1999

2.Vacant and derelict land

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