Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2022

5. Derelict and Urban Vacant Land: Location and Trends

In 2022 there were 9,236 hectares of derelict and urban vacant land. Derelict land made up four-fifths (80%) of the total. Five councils (North Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, Glasgow, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway) together contain over 50% of all derelict and urban vacant land.

The number of sites was 3,186. There are ten derelict sites with an area over 100 hectares. The largest are Eastriggs former Ministry of Defence depot in Dumfries and Galloway (432 hectares), a former explosives factory in Ardeer, North Ayrshire (332 hectares) and the Port of Arderseir in Highland (302 hectares).

The downward trend in the amount of derelict and urban vacant land continued in 2022. The amount has fallen by more than a quarter (27%) since 2016. The largest fall was in 2021 when 11 former coal mining sites were naturalised and 2 former airfields were reclaimed.

While the majority of derelict sites are located within settlements (77%), derelict sites in the countryside are larger. Sites in the countryside make up 53% of the area of derelict land. The amount of urban vacant land has been falling steadily over the period 2016 to 2022. Almost a fifth (19%) of urban vacant land is located in Glasgow City.