The amount of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland has fallen by 1.2% – or 129 hectares – from the previous year, to 10,874 hectares.

The figures, published by Scotland's Chief Statistician, also revealed the amount of land brought back into use was 319 hectares, more than the 180 hectares of new land reported by council authorities.

The report said this, as well as changes in sizes of existing land, had contributed to the overall decrease in derelict and urban vacant land.

Of the 10,874 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land in the 2014 findings, 2,366 hectares (22%) were classified as urban vacant and 8,509 hectares (78%) were classified as derelict.

The Highland authority recorded the largest amount of derelict and urban vacant land, of 1,373 hectares (13% of the Scottish total). This was followed by North Ayrshire with 1,341 hectares (12%), and North Lanarkshire's 1,297 hectares (also 12%).


In 2014, 28.9% of Scotland's population are estimated to live within 500 metres of a derelict site, while 56% of people living in the most deprived decile in Scotland are estimated to live within 500 metres of derelict land. This compares to 12% of people in the least deprived decile.

For sites where the previous use is known, 24% of derelict land recorded in 2014 had been previously used for defence (1,964ha), 23% for mineral activity (1,851ha), and a further 21% for manufacturing (1,747ha). The most common previous use for urban vacant land, where previous use is known, was agriculture (20%, or 403ha) and residential development (19%, or 384ha).

Elsewhere, the most common new use for derelict land was residential, with 30% (60ha) reclaimed for this purpose, and agriculture (19% or 38ha). For urban vacant land, the most common new use was residential, with 54% (63ha) of the land reclaimed for this purpose.

Of the 180 hectares of new derelict and urban vacant land reported by local authorities in 2014, the most common previous land uses were manufacturing (25ha), community and health (24ha) and residential (22ha), as well as storage (20ha) and education (19ha).

Lastly, of the 319 hectares of land reused in 2014, 103 hectares involved some form of public funding – either a full or partial contribution.

(JP/IT)