Guidance issued on community use of vacant land

GUIDANCE on how communities might put to good use land that is either vacant or derelict has been issued by the Scottish Government-founded agency on the country’s land.

The guidance has been issued by the Scottish Land Commission. with Tom Arthur MSP, the Scottish Government Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, fronting the launch during the commission’s ‘land re-use month’.

Says the commission, here: “The campaign is highlighting how the public sector can transform their approach to vacant and derelict land across Scotland, which totals more than 11,000 hectares – an area roughly twice the size of the city of Dundee.”

The guide is being promoted in the context of ‘community wealth building’.

Adds the commission, here: “How we own, manage, and use our land is key to community wealth building and forms one of five pillars of the CWB approach: spending, inclusive ownership, fair work, finance, and land and property.”

The guidance makes reference to several case studies; for instance, the Highlands town of Fort William as an example (here) of how to engage with one’s community.

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland