The Scottish Land Commission has called for new laws to be introduced to tackle the blight of abandoned buildings and parcels of vacant and derelict land in town centres and communities across Scotland.

In a new report, the Land Commission states a new Compulsory Sales Order (CSO) could solve the issues surrounding land.

The proposed new power would provide planning authorities with a straightforward mechanism to bring sites and buildings that have been unoccupied and/or derelict for an undue period of time, back into productive use. 

Data from the Scottish Government shows that there are around 11,600 hectares of vacant and/or derelict land in Scotland. In addition Shelter Scotland claims there are more than 37,000 long-term empty homes in the country. 

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Speaking about the problem, Professor David Adams, one of the Scottish Land Commission's five Commissioners, said: "Such sites often act as magnets for crime and anti-social behaviour. This damages quality of life for existing residents and can act as a deterrent for inward investment, making it more difficult to bring about long-term regeneration and renewal." 

He continued: "CSOs could be part of a tool kit to bring unused land – especially small parcels of land that have lain unused and unloved, in our city and town centres – back in to productive use.

"We envisage it being used as a power of last resort; councils and land owners should be working together to try and find solutions first."

The Land Commission worked with interested parties across Scotland, including councils, the RICS, Shelter and experts in urban renewal and regeneration to develop the proposed new power.

Illustrative examples of the types of sites that might be tackled using the new power are detailed in the report and include sites such as empty homes, abandoned shopping centres, derelict hotels, gap sites, and abandoned or derelict commercial buildings.

(CM/MH)