Time to put city’s vacant
MP’s call as figures reveal Glasgow has highest number of derelict sites in Scotland
GLASGOW has the most derelict and vacant land in Scotland, according to a government survey.
The city is home to more than 1000 hectares of unused land – enough to fit another 20 Glasgow Greens in the city or almost 1000 football pitches.
The majority of the 446 empty sites are in the north and east of the city and almost half are owned by Glasgow City Council.
The council has been awarded almost £3milion pounds this year from the Scottish Government from a Derelict and Vacant Land Fund to help bring it back into use.
A map of vacant land shows several big open sites in the north of the city and a large number of smaller sites clustered in the east.
More than half of the sites in the city (446) have been empty for more than 15 years.
In a report to the council, Kenny McLean, convener for neighbourhoods and housing, said it was having an effect on residents.
He said a key issue was: “The blighting impact of derelict land on local communities, most disproportionately affecting those suffering from multiple deprivation.”
The total area of vacant land has slightly reduced in the last year with 22 sites brought back into use a reduction of 42 hectares, smaller than one Glasgow Green.
Next year another 33 hectares will be treated to get some ready to be used again or made to look more attractive.
The council report states that the derelict land in Glasgow has a complex mix of poor ground conditions and inadequate infrastructure that means it is not available for development immediately.
The cash will help reduce the impact of some sites on communities.
The proposed work in the next year includes turning derelict land into environmental works and creating greenspace.
The proposals include environmental work at a site in Royston to create a community green space with £438,000 allocated.
Work along the Glasgow Branch of the Forth and Clyde Canal including Hamiltonhill Basin at Applecross Street, Firhill Basin and Stockingfield junction will see almost £750,000 spent.
Cash will be spend on Dalmarnock in Cranhill and Easterhouse.
A community consultation is to be run to gather ideas for the derelict sheds at the old meat market site in Calton.
All of this will help reduce derelict land by another 33
‘‘ Much more land across the city could be rapidly developed
hectares and still leave more than 1000 hectares vacant in Glasgow.
Politicians want to see a greater effort in looking for solutions particularly for housing.
Paul Sweeney, Glasgow North East Labour MP, said he would be raising the matter at Westminster after the summer break.
He said: “It is a complex tapestry with many players involved in ownership.
“There are two large sites in my constituency which could be developed. One is at Cowlairs at Carlisle Street where there is an attempt to lever in pension fund investment to build social housing and another at Wallacewell that could be developed.”
He said 10 per cent of North East Glasgow consists of derelict land, while in in the adjacent suburban area of East Dunbartonshire it is 0.5 per cent.
“Much more land across the city could be rapidly developed if the will was there to do so.”
He said the council, through City Property, needs to be more willing to release land and private owners need to be more realistic in their expectations of price.
Mr Sweeney added: “There are landbanking issues with the private sector that need to be addressed.”
There are eight Transformational Regeneration Areas (TRA) in Glasgow where the council works with partners including Glasgow Housing Association to create new communities, including Sighthill to the north of the city centre, where a £250m masterplan is creating homes and facilities on the site of demolished tower blocks.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “The council, through its Property and Land Service (PaLS), identifies potential re-uses for its vacant or derelict sites.
“When sites are identified as surplus they are transferred to City Property who will market sites. The majority of the city’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund allocation is directed to the east and north of the city.
“Council works with housing associations and other housing providers across the city to identify vacant sites that are suitable for housing development.
“Council works with regeneration agencies such as Clyde Gateway in the east of the city, and Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership in the north, to accelerate the physical transformation of these areas.”