Scottish Government

Listen

Vacant and derelict land survey

27/01/2010

Updated statistics on the levels of vacant and derelict land in Scotland have been released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.

The main findings are:

• The 2009 survey recorded an overall increase of 5 hectares compared with the 2008 survey. Urban vacant land decreased by 41 hectares and derelict land increased by 47 hectares
• Between 2002 and 2009 there has been a two per cent increase in the total levels of vacant and derelict land in Scotland, from 10,646 hectares in 2002 to 10,863 hectares by 2009 (a net increase of 217 hectares). This is attributable to the land that has been brought back into productive use or removed due to naturalisation being more than balanced by a small number of large sites falling out of use
• Changes in levels of urban vacant and derelict land are much more varied at local authority level. Some local authorities (for example Aberdeenshire, Falkirk and Perth and Kinross) have large falls whereas others have recorded larger than average increases in total levels of urban vacant and derelict land (for example North Ayrshire and Fife) between 2002 and 2009
• Between the 2008 and 2009 surveys 324 hectares of vacant and derelict land were brought back into productive use. The main new use for this land was residential development (126 hectares). This is the smallest amount of land reclaimed since 2002
• Between the 2008 and 2009 surveys Local authorities identified 379 distinct new sites accounting for 478 hectares of vacant and derelict land. Existing sites increased in size by a further 33 hectares
• Where the length of time for which land had lain unused was known, 29 per cent of vacant and derelict land within settlements and 38 per cent of derelict land within the countryside had been unused since before 1986
• Of the 324 hectares brought back into use between 2008 and 2009, 96 hectares received some public funding (either a full or partial contribution).
• Considering the results of the 2005 to 2009 surveys together, a total of 108 hectares have been brought back into use in Dundee City, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire, with either a full or partial contribution from the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff.