Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to consult on vacant land, as announced by the First Minister on 2 March 2016.
I hosted a roundtable event on 25 October 2016 at which I consulted on our approach to Vacant and Derelict land. This event included a range of organisations, expertise and viewpoints with local government, landowners, developers, representative bodies and academic interests represented.
A number of issues were considered, including the prevalence of land banking, identification, developer approaches following the financial crisis and the growth in land options to secure development land. We also heard views on the impacts of land banking and potential enforcement models.
Following that event, we are preparing new guidance for local authorities to promote the effective use of their existing CPO powers, including to bring vacant and derelict land back into effective use. We are also continuing to engage around our response to the recent Barclay review of non-domestic rates.
