Mapping a better future!

Two new resources have been made available to help community groups develop assets and scope opportunities for community led development.

The Land reform community mapping tool has been created to assist communities in defining their community geographically for the process of forming a compliant Community Body, and for the purpose of submitting an application under either Community Right to Buy (Part 2), a Community Right to Buy Abandoned, Neglected or Detrimental Land (Part 3A) or a Right to Buy Land to Further Sustainable Development (Part 5).

The Mapping Tool can be used to identify the boundaries of a number of geographic areas, including Community Council area, Electoral Ward, Locality, Settlement, Postcode District, Postcode Sector and Postcode Units. In addition to Postcode Area and an Island, these form the prescribed types of area a community can define itself by for the purposes of a Right to Buy.

The Mapping Tool may also be of help in the mapping of land for any subsequent application.

Guidance for communities on how to use our community mapping tool to define their community boundaries and areas has also been published to support potential users.

In addition, the latest Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS) has been published. This is a yearly data collection by the Scottish Government to find out how much vacant and derelict land there is, where it is and what state it is in. You can now view this data on a map to find out about sites near you.

It is available to any member of the public who may have an interest in re-developing this type of land, for example, a developer, a charity, a community, or an individual. To enquire about specific sites, you can contact your local Planning Officer and contact details can be found on the register (at the relevant link below).

Links to resources

Land reform community mapping tool: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey and Map | Our Place