Three per cent drop announced in vacant and derelict land total

THE total amount of vacant and derelict land in Scotland has fallen by three per cent, between 2021 and 2022 – latest figures reveal.

In terms of hectares, that’s a drop from 9,518 hectares to 9,236 – as noted here.

Says the Scottish Government, in an announcement, here, the three per cent drop is part of an overall reduction between 2016 and 2022 of 27 per cent (from 11,172 hectares to 9,236).

The announcement adds: “More sites were brought back into use for residential (including housing) purposes than any other use (140 of the 262 reused sites). 

“In Scotland, 27 per cent of the population were estimated to live within 500 metres of a derelict site, though there are regional differences. In Na h-Eileanan Siar none of the population lives within 500 metres of a derelict site, whilst this is 69 per cent in North Lanarkshire.

“374 hectares of derelict or urban vacant land was brought back into use in 2022. Where the funding source was known, 11 per cent used public sector funding only, 50 per cent used private sector funding only and 21 per cent involved a mix of public and private funding. The Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund made either a partial or full contribution to the removal of 14 hectares.”

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland

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