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Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2000

2. Vacant and derelict land

Table 1: Vacant and derelict land1 by local authority area, 2000

Local Authority

Derelict Land

Vacant Land

Total Vacant and Derelict Land

Area (ha)

% of Derelict Land (by Area)

No. of Sites

Area (ha)

% of Vacant Land (by Area)

No. of Sites

Area (ha)

% of Total Land (by Area)

No. of Sites

Aberdeen City

68

1

23

61

1

49

129

1

72

Aberdeenshire

92

1

25

53

1

36

145

1

61

Angus

186

3

35

29

1

23

215

2

58

Argyll & Bute

17

*

19

37

1

52

54

*

71

Clackmannanshire

30

*

16

27

1

15

57

*

31

Dumfries and Galloway

306

4

34

55

1

24

361

3

58

Dundee City2

74

1

28

257

6

167

331

3

195

East Ayrshire

349

5

63

92

2

84

441

4

147

East Dunbartonshire

66

1

18

27

1

19

94

1

37

East Lothian

101

1

48

39

1

32

139

1

80

East Renfrewshire

13

*

3

20

*

23

33

*

26

Edinburgh, City of

111

1

26

51

1

31

162

1

57

Eilean Siar

1

*

2

10

*

8

11

*

10

Falkirk2

103

1

40

101

2

89

204

2

129

Fife

613

8

71

154

4

73

767

7

144

Glasgow City

804

11

282

682

16

661

1,486

13

943

Highland3

315

4

233

498

12

276

813

7

509

Inverclyde

67

1

47

60

1

84

126

1

131

Midlothian

333

4

105

49

1

29

382

3

134

Moray

34

*

36

6

*

11

41

*

47

North Ayrshire

237

3

101

164

4

117

401

3

218

North Lanarkshire

1,414

19

407

683

16

279

2,097

18

686

Orkney Islands

12

*

14

14

*

23

26

*

37

Perth and Kinross

98

1

28

66

2

16

164

1

44

Renfrewshire

243

3

54

158

4

105

400

3

159

Scottish Borders2

48

1

45

31

1

51

79

1

96

Shetland Islands
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

South Ayrshire

132

2

36

32

1

21

164

1

57

South Lanarkshire

497

7

136

205

5

156

702

6

292

Stirling

170

2

30

41

1

39

211

2

69

West Dunbartonshire

123

2

59

102

2

85

225

2

144

West Lothian2

766

10

101

456

11

77

1,222

10

178

Scotland

7,423

100

2,165

4,261

100

2,755

11,683

100

4,920

1 Figures may not sum due to rounding
2 1999 data have been used for these authorities (Dundee City, Falkirk, Scottish Borders and West Lothian)
3 1993 data have been used for this authority (Highland)

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 possessing 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 that in 2000 there were 11,683 hectares of vacant and derelict land, of which 64 per cent was classified as derelict (7,423 hectares). Three councils, North Lanarkshire, Glasgow City and West Lothian together contain 41 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, 2000

chart2

2.6 Approximately 4.6 per cent of Glasgow City’s and 3.0 per cent of North Lanarkshire’s land area is recorded as derelict. Together, they account for 30.0 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, 2000

chart3

2.8 Approximately 3.9 per cent of both Dundee City and Glasgow City’s land area is recorded as vacant. Together, they account for 22.0 per cent of all recorded vacant land in Scotland.

 

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