Scottish vacant and derelict land survey 2016

Data collection publication undertaken to establish the extent and state of vacant and derelict land in Scotland.

This document is part of a collection


10 Derelict and Urban Vacant Land: New and Reclaimed Sites

10.1 Table 17 shows the area and number of new distinct sites in 2016 that have been identified as vacant or derelict since the last survey was conducted. There were 112 hectares (56 sites) of newly identified derelict land since the previous survey. Of these 41 hectares (5 sites) were in Falkirk. There were 53 hectares (46 sites) of newly identified urban vacant land since the previous survey. Of these, 9 hectares (7 sites) were in East Ayrshire, 8 hectares (6 sites) in Aberdeen City and 7 hectares (5 sites) were in Aberdeenshire. Note that these figures relate only to completely new sites identified. Sites listed in the previous survey which changed in size or changed from derelict to vacant or vice versa are not included in Table 17. This increase accounts for approximately 165 additional hectares of land.

10.2 Dumfries & Galloway, Highland and West Lothian did not update their survey in 2016 and therefore there is no information on new sites for these local authorities. East Lothian reported separately that no new sites had emerged in 2016.

Table 17: New Sites identified since the previous survey by local authority area, 2016 1,2

Local Authority Derelict Land Urban Vacant Land Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land
Area (ha) No. of Sites Area (ha) No. of Sites Area (ha) No. of Sites
Aberdeen City - - 8 6 8 6
Aberdeenshire 5 5 7 5 12 10
Angus 1 1 - - 1 1
Argyll & Bute 3 - - 1 1 1 1
Clackmannanshire 33 4 - - 33 4
Dumfries & Galloway 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dundee City - - 4 7 4 7
East Ayrshire * 1 9 7 9 8
East Dunbartonshire 5 2 * 1 5 3
East Lothian 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
East Renfrewshire * 1 - - * 1
Edinburgh, City of - - 6 2 6 2
Falkirk 41 5 - - 41 5
Fife 6 5 - - 6 5
Glasgow City 10 10 - - 10 10
Highland 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Inverclyde 1 1 1 2 2 3
Loch Lomond & the Trossachs 3 - - - - - -
Midlothian - - - - - -
Moray - - 1 1 1 1
Na h-Eileanan Siar - - - - - -
North Ayrshire - - - - - -
North Lanarkshire 6 15 1 4 7 19
Orkney Islands - - - - - -
Perth & Kinross 3 - - - - - -
Renfrewshire - - * 1 * 1
Scottish Borders 2 2 1 1 3 3
Shetland Islands - - - - - -
South Ayrshire 1 3 * 1 2 4
South Lanarkshire 1 1 7 2 7 3
Stirling 3 - - 4 2 4 2
West Dunbartonshire 3 - - 2 3 2 3
West Lothian 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Scotland 112 56 53 46 165 102

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Sites identified since the previous survey but recorded as falling out of use prior to 2015 are not included in the above table. However, where the local authority does not know when a site first became vacant or derelict then it will appear in the above.
3. From 2011 LLTNP took responsibility for surveying vacant and derelict land within the park boundaries. These sites are no longer recorded in Argyll & Bute, Perth & Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire local authority boundaries, and are separately identifiable as LLTNP from 2011 onwards. Prior to 2011, these sites were classified within the relevant local authority boundary.
4. Dumfries & Galloway, Highland and West Lothian did not complete a survey in 2016 and therefore there is no information on new sites. East Lothian reported separately that no new sites had emerged in 2016.

10.3 Tables 18 to 24 relate only to sites (or parts thereof) which were brought back into actual use. Sites removed due to naturalisation or for definitional reasons are not included. 22 sites (142 hectares) of formerly derelict and urban vacant land were removed due to naturalisation and 20 sites (24 hectares) were removed for definitional reasons in the 2016 survey. Further details can be found in Table D in the Annex.

Table 18: Derelict Land reclaimed and Urban Vacant Land brought back into use since the previous survey, by local authority area, 2016 1

Local Authority Derelict Land Urban Vacant Land Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land
Area (ha) % of Derelict Land (by Area) No. of Sites Area (ha) % of Urban Vacant Land (by Area) No. of Sites Area (ha) % of Total Land (by Area) No. of Sites
Aberdeen City 5 3 2 3 2 3 8 3 5
Aberdeenshire 1 * 1 3 2 4 4 1 5
Angus 3 2 2 10 7 4 13 4 6
Argyll & Bute 2 - - - 2 1 2 2 1 2
Clackmannanshire 3 2 3 1 * 2 4 1 5
Dumfries & Galloway 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dundee City - - - 17 11 26 17 5 26
East Ayrshire 1 1 2 - - - 1 * 2
East Dunbartonshire 4 2 1 - - - 4 1 1
East Lothian 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
East Renfrewshire * * 1 - - - * * 1
Edinburgh, City of 1 * 4 16 11 12 17 5 16
Falkirk 2 1 1 7 5 5 8 3 6
Fife 8 5 7 6 4 6 14 4 13
Glasgow City 11 6 15 33 23 32 44 14 47
Highland 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Inverclyde * * 1 6 4 7 7 2 8
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs 2 - - - - - - - - -
Midlothian 7 4 6 2 1 1 8 3 7
Moray * * 2 * * 1 * * 3
Na h-Eileanan Siar * * 1 * * 2 1 * 3
North Ayrshire 3 2 6 7 5 6 11 3 12
North Lanarkshire 39 22 42 3 2 8 42 13 50
Orkney Islands - - - - - - - - -
Perth & Kinross 2 2 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 4
Renfrewshire 40 23 3 12 8 9 52 16 12
Scottish Borders - - - 1 1 1 1 * 1
Shetland Islands - - - - - - - - -
South Ayrshire 2 1 3 2 1 2 4 1 5
South Lanarkshire 32 19 12 9 6 15 41 13 27
Stirling 2 - - - 1 1 3 1 * 3
West Dunbartonshire 2 10 6 7 3 2 3 13 4 10
West Lothian 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Scotland 174 100 125 147 100 155 321 100 280

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. From 2011 LLTNP took responsibility for surveying vacant and derelict land within the park boundaries. These sites are no longer recorded in Argyll & Bute, Perth & Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire local authority boundaries, and are separately identifiable as LLTNP from 2011. Prior to 2011, these sites were classified within the relevant local authority boundary.
3. Dumfries & Galloway, East Lothian, Highland and West Lothian did not update their survey in 2016 and therefore there is no information for reclaimed or reused sites.

10.4 Table 18 shows that a total of 321 hectares (280 sites) were reclaimed or brought back into use since the previous survey, excluding those sites removed for definitional reasons or due to naturalisation. 174 hectares of land reclaimed back into use was previously derelict, of which 23% was in Renfrewshire (40 hectares). Of the 147 hectares of urban vacant land brought back into use 23% was in Glasgow City (33 hectares). The largest derelict or urban vacant site brought back into use in 2016 was part of the former royal ordnance site (37 hectares) at Bishopton in Renfrewshire, now with a residential new use.

10.5 The new use of sites, or part of sites, that were reclaimed or brought back into use (excluding sites removed for definitional reasons or due to naturalisation) are shown in Table 19. The most common new use for derelict land was for residential development, with 66% (115 hectares) of the land reclaimed for this purpose. The second most common new use was for recreation & leisure, accounting for 12% (21 hectares). For urban vacant land the most common new use was also residential development, with 57% (83 hectares) of the land reclaimed for this purpose, followed by other general industry with 12% (18 hectares) reclaimed.

Table 19: Reclaimed Derelict Land and Urban Vacant Land brought back into use since the previous survey, by new use, 2016 1

New Use Derelict Land Urban Vacant Land Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land
Area (ha) % of Derelict Land (by Area) No. of Sites Area (ha) % of Urban Vacant Land (by Area) No. of Sites Area (ha) % of Total Land (by Area) No. of Sites
Agriculture 1 * 2 - - - 1 * 2
Business Class * * 1 3 2 3 3 1 4
Community & Health * * 2 5 4 3 6 2 5
Defence - - - - - - - - -
Education 5 3 2 10 7 6 15 5 8
Green/Environmental 9 5 5 2 1 2 10 3 7
Manufacturing - - - 1 1 2 1 * 2
Mineral Activity - - - - - - - - -
Offices 1 * 2 2 1 1 3 1 3
Other General Industry 2 9 5 10 18 12 18 26 8 28
Passive Open Space 1 * 1 5 3 6 5 2 7
Recreation & Leisure 3 21 12 4 * * 1 21 7 5
Residential 115 66 68 83 57 82 199 62 150
Retailing 1 * 3 7 5 9 8 3 12
Storage 9 5 13 2 1 7 11 3 20
Transport 2 1 6 2 1 4 4 1 10
Utility Services - - - 3 2 3 3 1 3
Wholesale Distribution - - - 2 1 3 2 1 3
Woodland (Community-Based) - - - - - - - - -
Woodland (Non-Community-Based) - - - * * 1 * * 1
Vacant Pending New Use - - - - - - - - -
Other 1 1 6 1 * 3 2 * 9
Unknown 4 - - - * - 1 * - 1
Total 174 100 125 147 100 155 321 100 280

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Excluding Manufacturing.
3. Excluding Passive Open Space.
4. Unknown values are excluded from the calculation of percentages.

10.6 Table 20 shows the sources of funding used for bringing derelict and urban vacant land back into use since the previous survey. The most common source of funding was the private sector (65%). Public sector funding accounted for 20% of reclaimed land, and the source of funding was unknown for 6% of reclaimed land. South Lanarkshire had the greatest area brought back into use by public funding (22 hectares), whereas Renfrewshire reclaiming the most land with private funding (48 hectares).

10.7 For land receiving public/mixed funding the largest area of new use was for residential development (40%), followed by recreation & leisure (23%). For privately funded land the largest area of new use was also for residential development (72%), followed by other general industrial (11%).

Table 20: Sources of funding used for Derelict Land reclaimed and Urban Vacant Land brought back into use since the previous survey, by local authority area, 2016 1

Local Authority Public sector funding (ha) Private sector funding (ha) Mixed funding 2 (ha) Unknown (ha) None / not applicable (ha) Total (ha)
Aberdeen City 2 6 - - - 8
Aberdeenshire - 3 - 1 - 4
Angus - 13 - - - 13
Argyll & Bute 3 - 1 - 1 - 2
Clackmannanshire - 1 3 - - 4
Dumfries & Galloway 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dundee City 10 7 - - - 17
East Ayrshire - 1 - - - 1
East Dunbartonshire - 4 - - - 4
East Lothian n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
East Renfrewshire - * - - - *
Edinburgh, City of 2 14 1 - - 17
Falkirk 2 7 - - - 8
Fife 1 - - 13 - 14
Glasgow City 4 23 16 * 1 44
Highland n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Inverclyde 1 4 2 - - 7
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs 3 - - - - - -
Midlothian 2 6 * - - 8
Moray - - - * * *
Na h-Eileanan Siar - 1 - - - 1
North Ayrshire 5 6 - * - 11
North Lanarkshire 5 37 * - - 42
Orkney Islands - - - - - -
Perth & Kinross 3 - 1 - 1 1 3
Renfrewshire - 48 4 - - 52
Scottish Borders 1 - - - - 1
Shetland Islands - - - - - -
South Ayrshire * 4 - - - 4
South Lanarkshire 22 18 - 1 1 41
Stirling 3 1 1 - - - 1
West Dunbartonshire 3 7 5 1 - - 13
West Lothian n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Scotland 63 210 27 18 3 321

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. Mixed public and private sector funding or partnership.
3. From 2011 LLTNP took responsibility for surveying vacant and derelict land within the park boundaries. These sites are no longer recorded in Argyll & Bute, Perth & Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire local authority boundaries, and are separately identifiable as LLTNP from 2011. Prior to 2011, these sites were classified within the relevant local authority boundary.
4. Dumfries & Galloway, East Lothian, Highland and West Lothian did not complete a survey in 2016 and therefore there is no information for sources of funding.

10.8 Table 21 and Chart 7 show the total amount of derelict land reclaimed and urban vacant land reused in each of the past 7 survey years. The amount of derelict land reclaimed has varied over the period 2010 to 2016, with the lowest amount reclaimed in 2012 (134 hectares). On average, 200 hectares of derelict land per year was reclaimed between 2010 and 2016. In 2016 there were 174 hectares of derelict land reclaimed on 125 sites. On average, 146 hectares of urban vacant land was reused per year between 2010 and 2016. The lowest amount of urban vacant land reused was in 2014 (122 hectares). In 2016 there were 147 hectares of urban vacant land reclaimed on 155 sites.

Table 21: Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land reclaimed, 2010-2016 1,2,3

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Derelict Land (ha) 256 186 134 239 207 205 174
Total Sites 118 113 92 133 123 119 125
Urban Vacant Land (ha) 133 151 153 164 122 150 147
Total Sites 158 150 141 188 140 194 155
Total Area Reclaimed (Derelict & Urban Vacant) 389 338 288 404 329 356 321
Total Sites 276 263 233 321 263 313 280

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. See Annex Table E for details of council participation in different years.
3. During 2016, historical data on the reuse of land from the years 2010-2015 were revised to correct any revisions to the data highlighted in the 2016 survey returns. Further information on this process is available in Annex A.4.

Chart 7: Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land Reclaimed, 2010-2016
Chart 7: Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land Reclaimed, 2010-2016

10.9 Table 22 shows the amount of formerly derelict and urban vacant land that has been reclaimed or reused with the involvement of the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land Fund ( VDLF). The 3 councils in receipt of this fund since the 2005/06 financial year were Dundee City, Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire. South Lanarkshire joined the scheme in 2006/07 and then Highland joined in 2008/09. In 2015/16 Fife replaced Dundee. To date, a total of 367 hectares of formerly derelict and urban vacant land has been removed from the survey with the VDLF making either a partial or full contribution. Glasgow City has reused 132 hectares and Dundee City has reused 99 hectares (across 72 and 76 sites respectively) of formerly derelict and urban vacant land using the fund. Any involvement the VDLF has had with existing sites in the 2016 survey ( i.e. those not yet removed from the survey) is not recorded in Table 22, but will appear when the sites are bought back into use in the future.

Table 22: Sites where the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund ( VDLF) was a funding source used to reclaim Derelict Land and bring Urban Vacant Land back into use, 2005-2016 1,2,3

Local Authorities receiving Vacant and Derelict Land Funds Derelict Land Urban Vacant Land Total Derelict and Urban Vacant Land
Area (ha) No. of Sites Area (ha) No. of Sites Area (ha) No. of Sites
Dundee City 33 8 66 68 99 76
Fife - - 1 1 1 1
Glasgow City 60 48 73 24 132 72
Highland 7 15 19 17 26 32
North Lanarkshire 62 26 4 8 65 34
South Lanarkshire 40 8 4 11 44 19
TOTAL 201 105 166 129 367 234

1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
2. The Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Fund contributed either partially or fully to the reclamation or reuse of the 234 sites shown in the above table. This includes money used to prepare the land for development, e.g. decontamination.
3. Any involvement the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund has had with existing sites in the 2016 Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (those not yet removed from the survey) is not recorded in the above table.

10.10 Table 23 shows an estimate of the number of properties (both private households and communal establishments [2] ) that are situated within 500 metres of a site reclaimed using the VDLF (either solely or in combination with other funds). Across the 5 councils in the Fund for 2005-2016, an estimated 153,100 properties were within 500 metres of land reclaimed with the involvement of the VDLF. Of those properties, 55% (83,700) were within 500 metres of 1 site reclaimed with the involvement of the VDLF. 22% (33,000) were within 500 metres of 2 reclaimed sites, and the remaining 24% (36,400) were within 500 metres of at least 3 reclaimed sites. To date, the largest number of properties in close proximity to land reclaimed using the fund is located within Glasgow City (58,300 properties). Dundee City has 37,900 properties within 500 metres of land reclaimed using the fund, North Lanarkshire has 21,300, South Lanarkshire has 18,500 and Highland has 16,400. In Fife there are 700 properties in close proximity to the one site reclaimed using the fund so far.

Table 23: Estimate of the number of properties within 500 metres of at least 1 site reclaimed using the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund ( VDLF), 2005-2016 1,2,3

Local Authority Properties within 500m of land reclaimed using VDLF
1 Site Only 2 Sites Only 3 Sites + Total
Dundee City 4 9,800 9,600 18,400 37,900
Fife 700 - - 700
Glasgow City 5 30,900 15,400 12,000 58,300
Highland 14,300 2,000 100 16,400
North Lanarkshire 15,200 3,200 2,900 21,300
South Lanarkshire 6 12,800 2,800 3,000 18,500
Total 83,700 33,000 36,400 153,100

1. Properties based on National Records of Scotland Address Register data 2016. See Annex Note A.8 for further information.
2. Any involvement the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund has had with existing sites in the 2016 Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (those not yet removed from the survey) is not recorded in the table above.
3. Properties that are estimated to have been built on the reclaimed site have been removed from this analysis.
4. A further estimated 60 properties within Angus and Perth & Kinross are located within 500 metres of a reclaimed derelict site within Dundee City boundaries.
5. An estimated 800 properties within South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire are located within 500 metres of a reclaimed derelict site within Glasgow City boundaries.
6. An estimated 2,100 properties within Glasgow City are located within 500 metres of a reclaimed derelict site within South Lanarkshire boundaries.

10.11 Table 24 shows an estimate of the number of properties (both private households and communal establishments) that are situated within 500 metres of a site reclaimed using the VDLF (either solely or in combination with other funds), split by deprivation level. Overall, 51% of the 153,100 properties within 500 metres of land reclaimed using the VDLF were situated within Scotland's 15% most deprived datazones (78,200 properties). The remaining 49% (74,900 properties) were located outwith the 15% most deprived datazones. At council level, in Glasgow City 38,900 or 67% of the properties in close proximity to reclaimed land were in the 15% most deprived datazones, compared to 47% (17,800 properties) for Dundee, 46% (8,500 properties) for South Lanarkshire, 42% (9,000 properties) for North Lanarkshire, 30% (200 properties) for Fife and 23% (3,800 properties) for Highland.

Table 24: Estimate of the number of properties within 500 metres of at least 1 site reclaimed using the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund ( VDLF), split by deprivation, 2005-2016 1,2,3

Local Authority Properties within 500m of land reclaimed using VDLF -
Within 15% Most Deprived Datazones 5 Outwith 15% most Deprived Datazones 5 Total Percent of Properties near remediated land within 15% most deprived datazones
Dundee City 4 17,800 20,100 37,900 47
Fife 200 500 700 30
Glasgow City 5 38,900 19,400 58,300 67
Highland 3,800 12,600 16,400 23
North Lanarkshire 9,000 12,300 21,300 42
South Lanarkshire 6 8,500 10,000 18,500 46
Total 78,200 74,900 153,100 51

1. Properties based on National Records of Scotland Address Register data 2016. See Annex Note A.8 for further information.
2. Any involvement the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund has had with existing sites in the 2016 Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (those not yet removed from the survey) is not recorded in the table above.
3. Properties that are estimated to have been built on the reclaimed site have been removed from this analysis.
4. A further estimated 60 properties within Angus and Perth & Kinross are located within 500 metres of a reclaimed derelict site within Dundee City boundaries.
5. An estimated 800 properties within South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire are located within 500 metres of a reclaimed derelict site within Glasgow City boundaries.
6. An estimated 2,100 properties within Glasgow City are located within 500 metres of a reclaimed derelict site within South Lanarkshire boundaries.

Contact

Email: Planning Statistics

Phone: 0300 244 4000 – Central Enquiry Unit

The Scottish Government
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