Scottish Land Commission Land Reuse Month

That the Parliament welcomes Land Reuse Month, which takes place in March 2022, hosted by the Scottish Land Commission; understands that it aims to put the national spotlight on redeveloping vacant, derelict and abandoned sites across the country; further understands that Land Reuse Month aims to drive forward the message that the public sector has a key role to play in transforming vacant and derelict sites across the country into useful community assets; understands that Scotland has almost 11,000 hectares of vacant and derelict urban land, which is an area roughly twice the size of the city of Dundee, and that almost one-third of the 5.4 million population lives within 500 metres of a derelict site; highlights that the South Scotland Region, as all areas across Scotland, is home to many vacant and abandoned sites such as the former Interfloor Factory in Dumfries, George Hotel in Stranraer, Central Hotel in Annan and the N Peal building in Hawick; understands that evidence shows that vacant and derelict sites can cause significant harm to communities, ranging from negative impacts on health and wellbeing to anti-social behaviour and safety concerns, as well as being cited as “blights on local communities”; believes that there is potential for many of these sites to be transformed into assets which provide real benefit to local communities, including much-needed green space for health and wellbeing, growing spaces, community facilities, housing and business use; raises awareness of the four online seminars being offered by the Land Commission during Land Reuse Month, which include addresses by Scottish Government ministers; encourages local authority representatives to attend, the first of which is on 3 March 2022, and wishes the Scottish Land Commission a successful first Land Reuse Month 2022.