The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS) is a national data collection undertaken to establish the extent and state of vacant and derelict land in Scotland. The survey has been operating since 1988. This survey is associated with the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, under which cash allocations are made to Planning Authorities.
Every year the Scottish Government Communities Analysis Division produce a National Statistics statistical publication based on data collected and processed from all Local Authorities and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority. This includes an SVDLS Site Register. Where shapefiles are provided by Planning Authorities the Scottish Government quality assure these to make sure they match the published Excel SVDLS Site Register.
To create this dataset we have taken all of the spatial data provided by councils and checked by the Scottish Government for the current survey year (2022 published in 2024 for most authorities) and combined it to this year's SVDLS Site Register (using the site reference).
However:
- where Planning Authorities have not provided spatial data for the current year, their previous spatial data return has been used, or where there is no spatial data at all for site we have buffered the easting and northing provided in the survey, to create a circular polygon area for the site.
The definitive data source is the SVDLS Site Register available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-vacant-derelict-land-survey-2022/