New legal power proposed to tackle vacant and derelict land

A new compulsory sales order (CSO) power could tackle the blight of abandoned buildings and parcels of vacant and derelict land in town centres and communities across Scotland, according to a report published by the Scottish Land Commission.

The proposed new power would provide planning authorities with a mechanism to bring sites and buildings that have been unoccupied and/or derelict for an undue period of time, back into productive use.
Scottish Government data* shows there are around 11,600 hectares of vacant and/or derelict land in Scotland – an area almost twice the size of the City of Dundee. In addition, Shelter Scotland claims there are more than 37,000 long-term empty homes in the country**.

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.”

“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 landowners should be working together to try and find solutions first.”

You can see the report here

* Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2017, Scottish Government

** Shelter Scotland accessed on 22nd June 2018