Progress being made on reducing amount of vacant and derelict land in Glasgow

Published: 5 Ocotober 2016

Glasgow City Council's Executive Committee today (5 October) considered the progress made over recent years in tackling the issue of derelict and vacant land in the city, and approved the programme for Vacant and Derelict Land Fund for the next year.

The city saw over 40 hectares removed from the Vacant and Derelict Land Register in 2015, with 43 sites fully removed, with the foremost use of the new sites being for residential, manufacturing, recreation and leisure, retailing and education purposes.  This follows the pattern of the past six years.

A programme for action on vacant and derelict land over the next year was approved, with funding of approximately £2.575million available.  While this is reduced from the previous funding of £3.947million, it reflects the funding reductions on such programmes nationally.

The new programme will see a number of projects, including:

• Continued remediation of sites and provision of sustainable infrastructure in Central Dalmarnock;
• Improved quay walls and access to the Forth and Clyde Canal;
• Facilitate the conversion of long-term vacant listed buildings within Transformational Regeneration Areas into community and business use;
• Provision of 'green networks' and infrastructure in Easterhouse;
• Develop innovative greening solutions, such as coppicing, on long-term vacant sites, particularly in peripheral estates.

These and future projects will lead to the development of new housing, business, leisure and green space, as well as the creation of employment and training opportunities for local people during construction and beyond.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The issue of vacant and derelict land is a serious one, as it can prevent development in those areas of the city that really require such investment.  It is heartening to see such progress being made, and so many sites being brought back to use effectively.  I am sure that the new programme will continue this success, with the economic and social benefits that it brings to Glasgow."

In Glasgow, the issue of vacant and derelict land is compounded by the complex mix of poor ground conditions, fragmented ownership and inadequate infrastructure relating to many sites that restricts the availability of land ready for development and acts as a brake on the economic potential of certain areas.