Vacant and derelict land and property strategy.
Monday, 07 November 2022 13:55
Members of the Council’s Economy and Resources Committee (15 Nov) will receive a report on the extensive consultation carried out to shape the draft Vacant and Derelict Land and Property Strategy and be asked to agree to the draft Strategy and associated action plan.
In October 2020, the Scottish Land Commission published ‘Transforming Scotland’s Approach to Vacant and Derelict Land’ which sets out recommendations to address the issue of long term land vacancy and dereliction.
Recommendations included providing dedicated funding to bring vacant and derelict land back into use and developing new approaches to support their remediation. In addition, a review of strategic funding streams to ensure they are aligned around the Place Principle was requested.
It was proposed that the remediation of vacant and derelict land should be prioritised, focusing within the following areas:
• Capital investment and infrastructure
• Health
• Housing
• The environment
• Inclusive growth
The Council held a consultation on the Vacant and Derelict Land and Property Strategy
Consultation Mandate in February 2022, which received 791 responses. Some of the key
findings were:
• 34% of respondents live within 500m of a derelict building or vacant land
• 65% of respondents often felt the site impacted on how they feel about their area
• 93% of respondents felt these sites make the area less attractive
• 90% wanted to see these sites prioritised for redevelopment
• 68% wanted the Council to use a different measurement for vacant and derelict land than the Scottish Government
In recognition of the need to prioritise sites for intervention, the public were asked
what measure should be the most important when the Council is considering where to focus its efforts. First choice responses were:
1. Danger to public (70.8%)
2. Prominent location (12.7%)
3. Possible end use (7.1%)
4. Community involvement (5.4%)
5. Anti-social behaviour (4%)
Dumfries and Galloway Council Plan 2017-22 set out a commitment to develop a derelict property strategy, in particular, to make town centre regeneration a priority.
In June 2019 Dumfries and Galloway Council declared a climate emergency, with the target of becoming a carbon neutral region by 2025. Reusing brownfield land in preference to greenfield sites can help reduce the impact of development on the climate by retaining areas of carbon sequestration, reduce the need for travel, while also limiting urban sprawl.
A Derelict Buildings Pilot Project was carried out in the Wigtown area and made a number of recommendations to be considered for inclusion in a regional strategy. In addition to dealing with specific buildings, the pilot project identified five key issues that the group felt should be included in the strategy. These recommendations provided a helpful starting point to form consultation with the wider region.
1. Clear details about powers and definitions.
2. Methods of communication.
3. A procedure for dealing with derelict properties.
4. Sources of funding and assistance.
5. Recommended interim measures.
In September 2021, the Scottish Government opened the application process for
the second round of funding from the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP). The £50 million fund is a capital programme scheduled over the next five yearsto help with tackling persistent vacant and derelict land and supporting place based approaches to delivering regeneration and sustainable inclusive growth.
Applications to this fund were prepared for proposed affordable housing developments at the Former Oil Depot, Terregles Rd, Dumfries, and also for Cotton Street, Castle Douglas. The latter project has been approved by the Scottish Government for the second stage of the application process. Work is now underway to identify further projects that meet the criteria for funding, ahead of further submissions being made.
Cllr Katie Hagmann, Chair of E&R Committee said: “Vacant and derelict land and property can blight communities, harm wellbeing, and limit opportunities. Due to rising inflation costs, particularly impacting on the construction sector, it is vital that our Council identifies and considers all funding options available to address the vacant and derelict land across our region, so it can be repurposed into areas and buildings that are vital to our local communities.”
Vice Chair, Cllr Sean Marshall said: “Our Council must prioritise the re-use and protection of our natural environment so we can ensure that future investment goes into areas where it is needed most. By identifying and reutilising these abandoned sites, we will be supporting shared ambitions for place, housing, community regeneration and town centres. It is vital more powers and funding is given to Local Authorities by Scottish Government to fully address the problems associated with derelict buildings across our region.”
ENDS
In October 2020, the Scottish Land Commission published ‘Transforming Scotland’s Approach to Vacant and Derelict Land’ which sets out recommendations to address the issue of long term land vacancy and dereliction.
Recommendations included providing dedicated funding to bring vacant and derelict land back into use and developing new approaches to support their remediation. In addition, a review of strategic funding streams to ensure they are aligned around the Place Principle was requested.
It was proposed that the remediation of vacant and derelict land should be prioritised, focusing within the following areas:
• Capital investment and infrastructure
• Health
• Housing
• The environment
• Inclusive growth
The Council held a consultation on the Vacant and Derelict Land and Property Strategy
Consultation Mandate in February 2022, which received 791 responses. Some of the key
findings were:
• 34% of respondents live within 500m of a derelict building or vacant land
• 65% of respondents often felt the site impacted on how they feel about their area
• 93% of respondents felt these sites make the area less attractive
• 90% wanted to see these sites prioritised for redevelopment
• 68% wanted the Council to use a different measurement for vacant and derelict land than the Scottish Government
In recognition of the need to prioritise sites for intervention, the public were asked
what measure should be the most important when the Council is considering where to focus its efforts. First choice responses were:
1. Danger to public (70.8%)
2. Prominent location (12.7%)
3. Possible end use (7.1%)
4. Community involvement (5.4%)
5. Anti-social behaviour (4%)
Dumfries and Galloway Council Plan 2017-22 set out a commitment to develop a derelict property strategy, in particular, to make town centre regeneration a priority.
In June 2019 Dumfries and Galloway Council declared a climate emergency, with the target of becoming a carbon neutral region by 2025. Reusing brownfield land in preference to greenfield sites can help reduce the impact of development on the climate by retaining areas of carbon sequestration, reduce the need for travel, while also limiting urban sprawl.
A Derelict Buildings Pilot Project was carried out in the Wigtown area and made a number of recommendations to be considered for inclusion in a regional strategy. In addition to dealing with specific buildings, the pilot project identified five key issues that the group felt should be included in the strategy. These recommendations provided a helpful starting point to form consultation with the wider region.
1. Clear details about powers and definitions.
2. Methods of communication.
3. A procedure for dealing with derelict properties.
4. Sources of funding and assistance.
5. Recommended interim measures.
In September 2021, the Scottish Government opened the application process for
the second round of funding from the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP). The £50 million fund is a capital programme scheduled over the next five yearsto help with tackling persistent vacant and derelict land and supporting place based approaches to delivering regeneration and sustainable inclusive growth.
Applications to this fund were prepared for proposed affordable housing developments at the Former Oil Depot, Terregles Rd, Dumfries, and also for Cotton Street, Castle Douglas. The latter project has been approved by the Scottish Government for the second stage of the application process. Work is now underway to identify further projects that meet the criteria for funding, ahead of further submissions being made.
Cllr Katie Hagmann, Chair of E&R Committee said: “Vacant and derelict land and property can blight communities, harm wellbeing, and limit opportunities. Due to rising inflation costs, particularly impacting on the construction sector, it is vital that our Council identifies and considers all funding options available to address the vacant and derelict land across our region, so it can be repurposed into areas and buildings that are vital to our local communities.”
Vice Chair, Cllr Sean Marshall said: “Our Council must prioritise the re-use and protection of our natural environment so we can ensure that future investment goes into areas where it is needed most. By identifying and reutilising these abandoned sites, we will be supporting shared ambitions for place, housing, community regeneration and town centres. It is vital more powers and funding is given to Local Authorities by Scottish Government to fully address the problems associated with derelict buildings across our region.”
ENDS