Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2023

1. Summary of Findings

• The amount of derelict and urban vacant land fell by 1% in 2023. This continued the downward trend. The amount has fallen by more than a quarter (28%) since 2016.
• Sites reused for housing - more sites were brought back into use for residential (including housing) purposes than any other use (75 of the 177 reused sites).
• Living within 500 metres of derelict land - in Scotland 27% 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% in North Lanarkshire.
• Funding sources for land reuse - 178 hectares of derelict or urban vacant land was brought back into use in 2023. Where the funding source was known 17% used public sector funding only, 52% used private sector funding only and 6% 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 8 hectares.