The amount of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland has fallen.

According to official figures released by Scotland's Chief Statistician, the land decreased by 187 hectares to 11,114 hectares – 1.7% – in 2013.

It is understood the amount of land brought back into use of 402 hectares was greater than the 189 hectares of new land reported by local authorities. This, alongside a fall in the size of existing sites of 26 hectares, all contributed to the overall decrease in derelict and urban vacant land.

Of the 11,114 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the 2013 survey, 2,355 hectares (21%) were classified as urban vacant, while 8,759 hectares were classified as derelict (79%).

The amount of land brought back into use increased from 285 hectares last year to 402 hectares in 2013, whereas the amount of new land reported by local authorities of 189 hectares was similar to 191 hectares in 2012.

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Since 2007, there has been a fall of 265 hectares or 2.3% in the total amount of derelict and urban vacant land recorded in the survey, from 11,379 hectares.

Geographically, the local authority with the highest amount of recorded derelict and urban vacant land is Highland, containing 1,376 hectares (12% of the country's total), while North Ayrshire has the second highest amount with 1,333 hectares (12%), North Lanarkshire with 1,300 hectares (12%), followed by Glasgow with 1,195 hectares (11%).

Some 29.7% of Scotland's population are estimated to live within 500 metres of a derelict site in 2013, and this compares with an estimate of 30.9% for the previous year.

For those sites where the previous use is known, 24% of derelict land recorded in 2013 had been previously used for mineral activity (2,028 hectares), 24% for defence (1,987 hectares) and a further 21% for manufacturing (1,771 hectares). The most common previous use for urban vacant land, where previous use is known, was agriculture (21%, or 414 hectares) and the second most common previous use was residential development (20%, or 399 hectares).

A further 3,451 hectares (36%) of derelict and urban vacant land was reported to be developable in the short term and so there is an expectation of development within five years, while the most common new use for derelict land was manufacturing, with 29% (68 hectares) of the land reclaimed for this purpose.

The second most common new use was for residential development, accounting for 24% (57 hectares). For urban vacant land, the most common new use was residential development, with 38% (60 hectares) of the land reclaimed for this purpose.

(JP/IT)