Environmental solutions
By transforming these sites, we reverse their negative impacts and bring about positive social and environmental change.
What we do
Scotland has over 9,500 ha of vacant and derelict land (VDL), around 60% of which has been classified as such for 20 years or more – but this bleak picture also highlights a huge opportunity. We have developed the expertise to turn the most challenging of sites into quality outdoor spaces.
Sites are classified as Vacant and Derelict Land for a number of reasons, from industrial contamination to simply being abandoned after a change in circumstances or ownership.
We analyse and survey potential sites, finding the ones suitable for environmental regeneration. We can also source the funding and manage the grants needed to get the proposals off the ground and transform these places.
Building on the information gathered through surveying each site, we look at the problems, constraints and opportunities to work up proposals that are tailored to the site’s characteristics, previous use and the needs of the surrounding communities.
We will then work with stakeholders, conduct community consultations and refine the proposed intervention to achieve the best result.
Examples include creating paths, education and exercise areas and woodland planting, sometimes using raised planters or bringing in topsoil depending on the state of the existing ground.
The next stage is to turn the concepts developed at the design and consultation stage into reality.
We will project manage the delivery on the ground, oversee the procurement process and external contractors, and ensure each site delivers the intended regeneration outcomes identified at the start, whether that’s a park, a woodland or a community garden.
When the works are completed, we don’t simply walk away. We often remain involved in a site for several years to evaluate the quality of what has been delivered and deal with any snagging issues before the final handover to the client.
Whether you need help identifying vacant and derelict sites in your area, or would like advice on planning or funding a project, the first step is to speak to us.
Featured Project
The Wishawhill Wood Pumptrack project turned a derelict site in Craigneuk, North Lanarkshire into a world class cycling facility, bringing positive impacts on young people and reducing antisocial behaviour.
Unloved and derelict
Under construction
A fantastic facility
Cycling on the track
Our Services
If you are looking to plan or deliver a project on Vacant and Derelict Land, we can help. Our services range from individual specialisms to full project delivery and longer term partnerships.
We can provide a complete end-to-end solution, from inception to delivery and ongoing evaluation. This puts us in a unique position to help you develop your initial project idea, maximise its potential, and see it through to completion.
If you’re looking to add expertise or capacity in specialist areas, rather than across a whole project, we can provide services on a stand-alone basis across a number of specialisms.
We can provide key elements of your project, such as contract and grant management, feasibility studies, GIS data analysis and mapping, or any component part of our complete end-to-end solution. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
A great deal of our work is done with long-standing partners, who trust us to advise and deliver on long-term strategies to help achieve big goals on climate, biodiversity and social change.
If you have a vision or long-term objective and need an environmental partner to nurture it over years, not months, we’ll be happy to discuss this with you.
Project examples
We’ve planned and delivered environmental regeneration projects, bringing VDL sites into positive use, right across Scotland. Browse the gallery for a selection of our work and visit the projects page for more in-depth examples.
Blogs
Read our selected blogs and project stories related to this area of our work, or browse all articles on our Blogs page.
From feasibility studies to forests, grant management to greenspace, we can help to make your project a reality. It all starts with a conversation, so contact us now to get started.
