There is incredible demand for allotments. In areas where private garden space is limited they provide people with crucial outdoor green space. They provide significant mental and physical health benefits.
It is estimated that there are 330,000 allotment plots in the UK. In 2021 the average wait for an allotment was over two-and-a-half years. Waiting lists can hover as high as 100,000 people at any one time.
Councils have a lead role to play in providing allotments for their communities.
You can find our Allotment Campaign Pack here.
Below is a template Council Motion to call on your council to identify land that could be used to provide additional allotments, and to promote and secure existing allotment sites.
Council notes the important role allotments can play in improving people’s mental and physical health. They can provide outdoor space, social interaction, recreation and can help with household budgets during the cost of living crisis.
Council recognises the significant demand for allotments in AREA NAME with significant waiting lists in many areas.
Council notes the statutory duty it has under Section 23 of the 1908 Small Holdings and Allotments Act to provide allotments for local residents. Council therefore resolves to:
- Seek to identify suitable sites in the Council’s ownership that have the potential to be developed into allotments as part of a Council Asset Review, and identify sources of funding to create new allotment sites.
- Seek ‘statutory status’ for any allotments within the council’s ownership that are currently ‘non-statutory’ in order to protect them from a change of use.
- Ensure allotment provision is included in the Council’s Health and Well-being Strategy as a way to deliver public health targets such as nutrition, emotional resilience and healthy activity.
- Ensure allotment sites are designated in any emerging neighbourhood plans or local plan review to further protect them from any change of use.
- Champion the benefits of allotments during National Allotments Week (7-13th August 2023).
Council refers this motion to [CABINET / APPROPRIATE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE] to explore sites for additional allotment space and to protect currently allotment sites – in order to bring a progress report back to Council at the earliest possible point.