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Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2000

1. Introduction and summary

1.1 This bulletin presents a summary of the results from the 2000 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS). It is the tenth survey in the series including the pilot study in 1988, the first completed survey in 1990, and enhanced surveys conducted annually since 1993. The survey is the only national data source for vacant and derelict land.

1.2 The survey is a co-operative effort between local authorities and the Scottish Executive Development Department. Where data were not provided in 2000 by some local authorities, data from previous surveys were carried forward to provide a best estimate. Such cases are indicated in the tables, and Annex Table D shows annual participation rates by local authorities since 1994.

1.3 The following main points emerge from the 2000 survey:

• There were 11,683 hectares of vacant and derelict land recorded in 2000 of which 4,261 hectares were vacant and 7,423 hectares were derelict.
• 381 sites (600 ha) were reclaimed or brought back into use and a further 71 sites (205 ha) redefined as no longer vacant or derelict. 356 distinct new sites (547 ha) were added.
• North Lanarkshire, Glasgow City and West Lothian together contain 41 per cent of recorded vacant and derelict land. Ten local authorities account for three quarters of recorded vacant and derelict land (see Chart 1).
• Where previous use was known, mineral activities (e.g. coal, sandstone & limestone extraction) accounted for 37 per cent of recorded derelict land, whereas agriculture accounted for 31 per cent of recorded vacant land. These were the most significant previous uses for derelict and vacant land respectively.
• Over half (51 per cent) of vacant or derelict land for which the length of time of disuse was known had been unused for at least fifteen years.
• The most common preferred or intended use for vacant land was residential development (32 per cent) and for derelict land was agriculture (17 per cent) and other general industry (17 per cent).
• The most common new use for land reclaimed in the year since the previous survey was residential development (24 per cent for derelict land and 41 per cent for vacant land).

Chart 1: Vacant and derelict land by local authority, 2000

Note: Data for Highland are taken from the 1993 survey

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