Scotland's £50 million derelict land fund

The Scottish Government has created a £50 million fund to help transform thousands of hectares of derelict land across Scotland.
Eyesore sites like this across Scotland could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new Scottish Government fund which aims to tackle the problem.Eyesore sites like this across Scotland could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new Scottish Government fund which aims to tackle the problem.
Eyesore sites like this across Scotland could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new Scottish Government fund which aims to tackle the problem.

Money will be allocated over the next five years to help tackle this blight in our communities.

However, the deadline for applications for this financial year is 5pm on May 7.

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Scotland has almost 11,000 hectares of vacant and derelict urban land, with 28 per cent of the population living within 500 metres of a derelict site.

This land can be reused to help achieve Scotland’s targets for climate change, well-being and the economy.

The new fund follows recommendations made by the Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce in October last year to transform Scotland’s approach to tackling the legacy of derelict land.

The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to bringing these sites back into use.

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Andrew Thin, chairman of of the taskforce, said: “Bringing derelict urban places back into use brings a wide range of benefits to communities, including helping tackle climate change, improving health and well-being, creating more resilient communities and rebuilding our economy.

“The taskforce recommendations have been pivotal in bringing a focus to the potential vacant and derelict land can bring to communities and Scotland.”

Bringing derelict land back into use could also help Scotland respond to the challenges of the pandemic.

Ali MacDonald, from Public Health Scotland, said: “The impact of Covid-19 has demonstrated clearly the benefits of being outdoors for people’s mental and physical health. However, not everyone has felt these benefits equally.

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"We now have an opportunity to prioritise Scotland’s long-term neglected sites, which are often located in areas with higher levels of deprivation and poorer health outcomes. They can be transformed to provide outdoor spaces on people’s doorsteps.”