GCU’s Professor of Health Behaviour Dynamics Sebastien Chastin has played a key role in a groundbreaking report showing that derelict land is a wasted resource that should help to deliver national ambitions for a fair and green recovery.
He said he was “very proud” to have been able to contribute evidence for the Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce report which has made a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government aimed at transforming Scotland’s approach to tackling the legacy of derelict land and ensure that it is no longer acceptable to allow land to fall into long term disrepair.
Professor Chastin systematically reviewed scientific evidence about the impact of derelict and vacant land and worked with key partners Stantec and Kevin Murray associates to co-create an impact assessment tool kit.
He also contributed a report on how better use of data could enable monitoring of the impact of vacant and derelict land and enable evaluation of the health, community and economic impact of regeneration of this vacant and derelict land.
Professor Chastin, who is based in the University’s Physiotherapy Department and is part of GCU’s Ageing Well research group, said: “Vacant and derelict land have negative impact on health on the communities that live near them. Unfortunately, vacant and derelict land are most often found in communities where health issues cluster already. Better use of data will enable to monitor the impact of derelict and vacant land and also enable us to understand and evaluate the benefits of redeveloping them on health and the economy. I am very happy to have been able to contribute to this ground breaking work by the Scottish Land Commission.”
View the full report here.
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