Allotment Strategy (TDBC) - Taunton Deane Borough Council

Taunton Deane Borough Council 

Allotment Strategy 

July 2010

Allotment Strategy Taunton Deane Borough Council 

Contents 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

Introduction 

Scope and aims 

Value of allotments 

Legislation 

National policy context 

Local policy context 

Audit of allotment provision 

Consultation review 

Developing a standard 

A policy for allotments 

Monitor, Review and Refresh 

1 

2 

4 

10 

14 

16 

20 

25 

31 

35 

36

Taunton Deane Borough Council Allotment Strategy 

Executive Summary 

Taunton Deane Borough Council recognises that the provision of allotments for residents is 

an important contributor to the well-being of the community. It is widely accepted that 

allotments can improve local diet especially in deprived wards, increase the amount of food 

locally produced, reduce obesity and increase physical activity. With an adopted Allotment 

Strategy the authority is able to deliver on local and economic agendas for the community 

which include community cohesion, education, recycling, health and the environment. 

To this end the Council has adopted an allotment strategy to provide guidance; standards, 

policies and monitoring which will enable all who wish to grow vegetables and fruit on an 

allotment to have the opportunity to do so at the earliest possibility and within a reasonable 

distance of their home. 

Definition 

One full sized allotment plot should be 290 square metre. 

Access Standard 

Allotments should be provided within 1 kilometre of new homes. 

Quantity Standard 

15.4 square metres of allotment land per dwelling. Land should be provided on-site for 

all new developments over 376 dwellings with off-site contribution in lieu of £154 per 

dwelling collected on smaller developments. 

Quality Standard 

Allotment sites will be well maintained and secure with appropriate facilities such as 

controlled water supplies, toilets, parking for bicycles and a shared shed or meeting 

room. They will be easy to get to on foot or by public transport, easy to find out about, 

and easy to get around with appropriate provision for people with disabilities. Allotment 

sites will be welcoming to people from all parts of the community, with support for first 

time growers and encouragement for sustainable cultivation practices. Sites will be 

managed to benefit wildlife and maintain good soil quality. 

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide allotments where there is proven demand; 

the responsibility for provision within the boundaries of Town or Parish councils lies with 

those local councils, the District Council has no powers to act in any manner over allotments. 

The Council will also seek to; monitor any unmet demand for allotments and investigate 

possible solutions to it, support the improvement of existing allotment sites and the 

development of horticultural knowledge and skills. 

Cllr Cathrine Herbert, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Parks and 

Leisure


Contents 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

Introduction 

Scope and aims 

Value of allotments 

Legislation 

National policy context 

Local policy context 

Audit of allotment provision 

Consultation review 

Developing a standard 

A policy for allotments 

Monitor, Review and Refresh 

1 

2 

4 

10 

14 

16 

20 

25 

31 

35 

36


1 

Introduction 1 

Allotments have been a part of the British culture for over 150 years. However in the last 

decades of the twentieth century there was a general decline in interest and the disposal of 

surplus allotment sites was accepted as inevitable. Maps of Taunton in the 1950s show that 

there were many allotment sites across the town which are now occupied by housing or open 

space; for example the block of flats overlooking French Weir Park and the Enmore Road 

open space. 

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in allotments. The background of increasingly 

tiny private gardens, popular cooking and gardening programmes, media coverage of issues 

such as organics, food miles and diet seem to have combined to create a new demand for 

allotments; and from a wider representation of the local community. Women, families, people 

from ethnic minorities and young adults are becoming allotment plot holders alongside the 

traditional image of a white, older, male. 

This has meant that those allotments sites that remain are experiencing a greater demand 

than they can provide for, despite creative management practices such as the subdivision 

of plots to provide as many interested people as possible with some small area for cultivation. 

In Taunton Deane the increasing number of homes and the high densities of new housing 

developments, especially in Taunton, mean that this rise in demand is likely to be exacerbated 

in the future as the population grows. 

For these reasons it is important to consider the role of allotments in the twenty first century; 

the supply of and demand for them, to plan ahead for the future, to give support and protection 

to the existing allotments and to ensure the creation of new ones where they are needed. 

Taunton Deane Borough Council supports the provision of allotments not simply because it 

has a statutory duty to do so, but because it acknowledges their value to the community and 

the wider role they can play in community life and well being. It has stated its vision for 

allotments to be: 

Everyone in Taunton Deane who wishes to grow vegetables and fruit on an allotment 

should have the opportunity to do so at the earliest opportunity and within a reasonable 

distance of their home.

2 


2 Scope and aims 

Definition of an allotment 

The definition of an allotment according to the Department for Communities and Local 

Government is: 

“a piece of land usually about 250 square metres in size which can be rented for growing 

fruit and vegetables. The land is generally owned by the local council.” 

Scope of the strategy 

The Strategy takes into account all allotments in the Borough irrespective of ownership or 

management reflecting the Council’s role as a community leader and enabler as well as 

landlord. There are 3 types of allotments: 

Statutory Allotments are those acquired or appropriated specifically for allotment use. These 

cannot be sold or used for other purposes without the consent of the Secretary of State for 

Communities and Local Government. The Secretary of State will need to be satisfied that: 

The allotment is not necessary or is surplus to requirements; 

Displaced plot holders will be given adequate alternative sites if necessary and 

practicable, within ¾ mile of the centre of demand; 

The number of people on the waiting list has been taken into account; 

The council has actively promoted and publicised the availability of allotment sites and 

consulted the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG); 

The Council will also have to have consulted plot holders. 

Temporary Allotments are those on land intended for other uses, but used as allotments 

on a temporary basis. These are not protected in the way Statutory Allotments are, but 12 

months’ notice to quit must be given to plot holders. 

Private Allotments are similar to Temporary Allotments; but the Local Authority has no 

control over these. Many of these are held by registered charities with their origins in the 

19th Century concern with rural poor. 

Aims of the Allotments Strategy 

In developing an Allotments Strategy for Taunton Deane it was necessary to consider what 

we have, what we need now and in the future and why and what we are going to do about 

any mismatch in supply and demand. In particular the aims of the strategy are to: 

Articulate the value of allotment cultivation; 

Set out the legal framework for allotments; 

Set out the policy context both nationally and locally;


3 

Present the analysis of data gathered on supply, demand, quality of existing provision; 

Demonstrate how allotments can contribute to the needs of the community; 

Propose ways to optimise the usability of allotments that exist; 

Identify where is a need for new allotment sites; 

Scope and aims 2 

Identify investment priorities for creating new allotments and potential new sites; 

Articulate the role of TDBC and Allotment Associations and plot holders in delivering the 

strategy and wider community benefits; 

Provide evidence for securing investment from third parties including house builders 

and charitable funders.

4 


3 Value of allotments 

Introduction 

Taunton Deane Borough Council supports allotment gardening as a valuable recreational 

activity. However; the value of allotments is much wider than this. The Department of 

Communities and Local Government states that: 

“allotments and community gardens are valuable green spaces that can help improve people’s 

quality of life by promoting healthy food, exercise and community interaction”. 

One of our plot holders said: 

“I think allotments are important in many ways and are a good amenity for the town. From 

the health point of view you get good exercise out in the fresh air and you get to eat good 

healthy vegetables and that makes you feel good. The social side, getting to meet new people, 

sharing tips and making new friends has got to be good and its nice to see younger families 

taking an interest too –they are the gardeners of the future” 

The benefits allotments can bring can be divided into six areas listed in the table below and 

described in more detail in the following text. 

Table 3.1 

Social 

Educational 

Celebrating Excellence 

Health 

Environment 

Money saving 

Inclusion of people from different backgrounds, social and ethnic, 

and with disabilities 

Use by schools and for community skill sharing 

People can be acknowledged for achievement 

Physical exercise, combat obesity, mental health improvements 

and reduced stress, diet improves 

Lower food miles, less packaging, less chemical use, encourages 

recycling and reuse, habitat for wildlife, green links in towns, 

green lungs 

Fresh low cost food 

Social benefits: meeting people 

Allotments provide a place for people to meet others in their community, but the social benefits 

of an allotment need not be restricted to those who work the plots. 

Kidbrooke Park Allotment Association in Croydon estimates that about a third of its thousand 

paid-up members are not plot holders, but nearby residents who use the site as a social 

centre, a supplier of plants or horticultural materials, or merely as a source of gardening 

knowledge. Indeed, the facilities provided on the site reflect the diversity of its appeal: 

“We have a large general-purpose room with a kitchen alongside it which is used most of 

the time by members and local community organisations as a committee room or for social 

events.”


5 

Value of allotments 3 

A Taunton Deane plot holder said: 

“Couldn’t be without my allotment. This is a very friendly allotment site with a mixed group 

of tenants. If we have any problems Wellington Town Council is always ready to help” 

Social benefits: inclusion and disability or special needs 

People with disabilities report significant benefits from allotment gardening. Those with special 

needs include mobility problems, special learning needs, mental health problems, physical 

needs: 

Access for vehicles; 

Flexible layouts and variable height beds; 

Proximity to conventional plots; 

Cooperative and helpful tenants nearby and buddies to help them; 

Advice; 

Shelter; 

Toilets; 

Accessible paths, tracks and hard surfaced areas within and approaching the plots. 

In Cheam, in the London Borough of Sutton, the Housing and Social Services Departments 

worked with voluntary groups to provide 18 plots have been provided for people with special 

needs with a model plot to inspire give ideas, toilets, seating all surrounded by a sensory 

garden. 


“We use the plot to teach my partner’s little girl about gardening. Even though I am disabled 

I really enjoy working my plot. It’s so peaceful and everybody is so friendly and helpful and 

it is very therapeutical” 

Social benefits: inclusion and the ethnic minorities 

Perhaps the most valuable benefit allotments bring to a community is to bring together people 

with a shared interest, but who are from different cultural or social backgrounds and whose 

paths might never normally cross. This promotes understanding and integration within the 

community. One plot holder on a site in London comments: 

“I cannot think of anywhere else in London you will see a merchant banker chatting about 

wine with a Portuguese dustman, or the owner of a large house on Blackheath swapping 

plants with an allotment member from the Ferrier Estate”

6 



An example of using allotments to create better community cohesion is the Uplands Allotments 

Association in Birmingham which hosted an Arts and Allotments Festival to feature food and 

music from around the world reflecting the ethnic backgrounds of people in the local 

community. 

Educational benefits 

The benefits of the allotment site do not stop at the site gates. Other Council areas such as 

the inner London boroughs, report that when allotments have strong links with their local 

community, both sides benefit. The secretary of a small site in Camberwell which lets a 

nearby primary school use a plot with their teacher, considers that relationships between 

allotment associations and local schools should become the norm: 

“Unsurprisingly, city children commonly find the allotments experience hugely engaging - 

many urban kids have little idea about how things grow, or how you go about cultivating food 

plants, and this is not something it is easy to get a good sense of through classroom based 

study. A good case can be made that all children should have the opportunity to share an 

allotment as part of their education”. 

Learning and skill sharing 

Mentoring of new gardeners by experienced plot holders is a valuable way to pass on 

knowledge and skills. Again Kidbrooke Allotment Association in Croydon is a good example 

of offering to pass these skills on to the wider community: 

“(Our meeting room) is also used as a classroom for horticultural training and for teaching 

about renewable energy” 

The gardening skills gained on an allotment can become a spring board for full time 

employment in horticulture and Bristol and Bradford City Councils promote this aspect 

Celebrating excellence 

The pride many plot holders take in their plots and the food they grow is immense and some 

achieve very high standards at shows. Sharing their achievements with the community is a 

good reason for celebration which can inspire others and lead to community cohesion. The 

various community flower shows are good venues for this. 

Physical health benefits 

The health benefits of allotment gardening were recognised by the Government in its response 

to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee’s report The Future of 

Allotments (see Policy Review chapter). The argument is made all the more compelling by 

government predictions about the growing problems for the health of the nation posed by 

obesity. There are well documented long-term health benefits resulting from a diet containing 

fresh fruit and vegetables. The impact of activity outdoors or ‘green exercise’ on both physical 

and mental health is of increasing interest to medical professionals and one of the most 

frequently cited benefits of allotment gardening is health improvement.


7 


Mental health benefits 

A plot holder said on their questionnaire: 

“ My husband passed away after a long illness. His plot gave him immense pleasure before 

and during his long illness. It was good therapy for him – please keep the allotments going” 

In Nottingham the council supports the Eco Works project providing opportunities for people 

with learning difficulties at an allotments site. It caters for a wide range of disadvantages 

including the unemployed and those with mental health problems giving them a place to take 

exercise and to structure their day and encourage self confidence. 

Research by University of Essex has shown a “synergistic benefit” in adopting physical 

activities while being directly exposed to nature. There are important public and environmental 

health implications to green exercise, as a fitter and more emotionally content population 

costs the economy less. 

Environmental benefits: a sustainable food source 

People are more and more concerned about the environmental impact of what they eat. A 

Taunton Deane plot holder said: 

“We need more allotments. Global warming and the terrible state of farming leads us to need 

much more land to grow veg and fruit, plant trees and provide habitat for wildlife. Have you 

seen the German allotments Inspirational!” 

Food miles: A DEFRA report in 2005 put the environmental, social and economic cost of 

food transport at £9bn annually. Ten million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted in the 

UK in 2002 as a result of food transportation and it also accounts for a quarter of all HGV 

vehicle miles. 

Food packaging is also a major environmental issue. It is estimated that 100,000 tonnes of 

plastic bags are thrown away every year. UK households produce the equivalent of 245 

jumbo jets a week in packaging waste. Allotment growing avoids the need to use packaging. 

The use of organic cultivation methods is increasing practiced up by many plot holders. 

Research in Bristol in 1997 showed that support for organic practices is better received than 

the creation of specific organic plots 

Composting on allotments is widely practiced, and is a good alternative to bonfires. Reuse 

and recycling is part of the allotments tradition: old carpets used for mulching and old gutters 

and water tanks are used for collecting water. The scruffy appearance of some sites is the 

accepted price of innovation in recycling and reuse of materials.

8 



Environmental benefits: wildlife and biodiversity 

Evidence from the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners shows that allotments 

have on average up to 30% higher species diversity than urban parks. They are a haven for 

wildlife in what could be an otherwise hostile urban environment. Wildlife is important for 

allotment holders - not just for its own sake and the pleasure that seeing wild animals and 

plants bring - but also because they pollinate vegetable crops, they prey on destructive insects 

and they speed up the process of decomposition for compost heaps. However the use of 

inorganic fertilisers, weed killers and pesticides harms wild flowers and reduces invertebrate 

populations. Inappropriate management of boundaries, communal areas etc can all have a 

detrimental effect on wildlife. 


“There is quite a lot of wildlife, frogs, newts, slow worms, birds and beneficial insects but no 

hedgehogs. If only we could ban slug pellets and let the hedgehogs do a much better job on 

the slugs.” 

Hedgerows, if left to grow tall, offer a refuge for birds and invertebrates as do ditches and 

grassy banks with low maintenance regimes. Invertebrates are associated with tussocky 

grasses, hedges and wildflowers found on the boundaries, and include butterflies, bumble 

bees and other beneficial insects. Birds such as tree sparrow, common sparrow, thrush and 

mistle thrush, finches, tits and robins can all find nesting and foraging habitat in hedges. 

Foxes are also known to make use of hedgerows. Undisturbed margins next to hedgerows 

provide nesting sites for small mammals such as mice and field voles which in turn attract 

raptors such as kestrel. 

Some tended plots act as seed banks for rare vegetable species. Disturbed ground from 

freshly dug soil on the plots makes worms, grubs and insects more accessible and is especially 

good for birds such as blackbird, pied wagtail, robins and starling etc. The addition of manure 

and composts to the soil encourages earthworms. 

Compost heaps also are a haven for insects and invertebrates such as the slow worm and 

over-wintering invertebrates and mammals. Hedgehogs and grass snakes may also be 

associated with tall grass, hedges and compost heaps. 

Ditches and marginal damp areas create the ideal habitat for over wintering amphibians such 

as frogs, toads, newts, great crested newts and offer nesting and foraging sites for water 

voles. 

Low cost food production 

The original purpose of allotments, encapsulated in the General Inclosure Act 1845, was to 

provide a source of fresh fruit and vegetables for the “landless poor”. Even now, the financial 

advantages of allotment gardening remain significant, but this has not emerged from the 

consultation as a main reason for having an allotment. It could be that this is so obvious it 

does not need to be said or that cost is not important to current plot holders


9 


Conclusion 

The case for maintaining, promoting and protecting allotments is a strong one, on public 

health and environmental grounds as well a means of enhancing community cohesion. Any 

policy decision must have full regard to the very considerable benefits they bring to the 

individual and the wider community. 

The main issues arising are: 

Need to demonstrate the value to Allotment Associations of being more community 

facing; 

Need to work with disability groups to identify how best to ensure provision is made for 

their needs; 

Need to ensure people from ethnic groups are able to access allotments and consider 

celebrating their culture through food and growing; 

Schools could benefit from more formal access to allotments and be supported to have 

growing areas on schools site; 

Support provision of communal meeting rooms on allotment sites or connections with 

nearby facilities; 

Support allotment open days; 

Need to link to the health services to provide support for people for whom allotment 

growing would improve their health; 

Identify sites with significant wildlife interest or potential and the 

biodiversity that plot holders can realistically be expected to make; 

contribution to 

Provide leaflets and guidance on best management practice for hedgerows, standard / 

pollard trees, set aside allotments, ditches, banks and compost heaps; 

Consider whether cost is of more significance to some people than others.

10 


4 Legislation 

There is great deal of legislation specifically about allotments from the last century and some 

non specific legislation which touches on it. 

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide allotments where there is proven demand. 

The responsibility for the provision of allotments within the boundaries of Town or Parish 

councils lies with those local councils; and the District Council has no powers to act in any 

manner over allotments. The disposal of allotments has to be approved by a Secretary of 

State and there is protection for “statutory” but not “temporary” allotments under the legislation. 

(1) 

Specific allotments legislation 

The table below provides some detail on the development of legislation which focuses primarily 

on allotments during the first half of this century. Between 1908 and 1950, the legislation for 

small agricultural holdings and allotments was intertwined. During this period, only the 

Allotments Acts of 1922 and 1925 dealt solely with allotments. The Agriculture Act 1947 

separated out the legislation for small holdings and they have been dealt with separately 

since that date. 

Table 4.1 Allotments Legislation for the Period 1908 to 1950 

Act and Date 

Small Holdings 

and Allotments 

Act 1908 

Description and notes on most important Sections 

Repealed and consolidated previous legislation and established the 

framework for the modern allotments system. 

Section 23 provides that if allotment authorities 'are of the opinion that 

there is a demand for allotments...in the borough, district or parish the 

council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments to persons...resident 

in the borough district or parish and desiring the same'. In determining 

demand an authority must take into consideration 'a representation in 

writing by any six registered parliamentary electors or rate payers'. 

Section 25 gives a local authority the power to compulsorily purchase land 

for allotments if land cannot be acquired by private agreement. 

Section 26 provides that an allotments authority 'may' make improvements 

to allotment land such as drainage, paths and hut construction. 

Section 32 deals with the 'Sale of superfluous or unsuitable land' and 

permits local authorities to sell land if they are 'of opinion that any land ... 

is not needed for the purpose of allotments'. However, Section 8 of the 

Allotments Act 1925 (see below) places restrictions on this process. 

Section 47 deals with compensation for allotment holders who are required 

to leave the site. These provisions were amended by the Allotments Act 

1922. 

1 Paragraph 9 sub-paragraph (1) of Schedule 29 to the Local Government Act 1972


11 

Legislation 4 

Land 

This Act was mainly to assist returning servicemen and opened up 

Settlement allotments to all, not just 'the labouring population'. 

Facilities Act 

1919 Made metropolitan borough councils allotment authorities for the first time. 

Section 22 enables an allotment authority to appropriate for allotments any 

land held for other purposes. 

Allotments Act 

1922 

This Act was established to provide allotment tenants with some security 

of tenure, laying down specific periods of notice and compelling most 

allotment authorities to appoint allotment committees, and provided tenants 

with greater compensation at the termination of their tenancy. 

Section 1 provides that an allotment garden tenancy may be determined 

by the landlord by notice to quit only if a six months or longer notice is 

given. This provision was amended by Section 1 of the Allotments Act 

1950. 

Section 2 provides for compensation on being forced to quit an allotment, 

based on the value of the crops. 

Section 16 required allotments authorities to exact a 'full fair rent' for 

allotments. This provision was repealed by Section 10 of the Allotments 

Act 1950. 

Section 22 defines 'allotment gardens' as 'an allotment not exceeding forty 

poles in extent which is mainly cultivated by the occupier for the production 

of vegetables and fruit crops for consumption by himself or his family'. 


1925 

This Act was intended to facilitate the acquisition and maintenance of 

allotments, and to make further provision for the security of tenure of 

tenants of allotments. 

Section 3 specifies that when a local authority is preparing a town-planning 

scheme, it must 'consider what provisions ought to be included therein for 

the reservation of land for allotments.' This provision was repealed by the 

Town and Country Planning Act 1947. 

Section 8 specifies that land purchased or appropriated by local authorities 

for use as allotments must not be disposed of without Ministerial consent. 

The Secretary of State must be satisfied that 'adequate provision will be 

made for allotment holders displaced by the action of the local authority, 

or that such provision is unnecessary or not reasonably practicable'. 

Section 12 provided that a local authority with a population of over 10,000 

should appoint an allotments committee which is responsible for all 

allotment matters with the exception of financial issues. This provision was 

repealed by the Local Government Act 1972.

12 


4 Legislation 

Small Holdings 

and Allotments 

Act 1926 

Made minor amendments to previous Acts but was mostly concerned with 

small holdings. 

Repealed sections 1-22 of Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 which 

related to small holdings. 

Agricultural 

Land 

(Utilisation) Act 

Temporary measure passed at time of economic depression to assist the 

unemployed. 

1931 Section 13 permitted the seizure of land for allotments and gave the Minister 

of Agriculture authority to provide allotments for the unemployed. This 

provision expired in 1939 under Section 19. 

Town and 

Country 

Planning Act 

1947 


1950 

Made no specific reference to allotments but removed requirement made 

in 1925 Act for town planning authorities to consider allotment provision 

within town planning schemes. 

Followed on from the Allotments Advisory Committee report of 1949. Made 

provision for better compensation following termination of tenancies, and 

clarified the systems for collecting rent. 

Section 1 increases the period of notice to be supplied to allotment holders 

to 12 months and this must expire during the winter months. 

Sections 2 to 6 deal with the compensation which should be payable to 

an allotment holder according to the season his tenancy terminates. Also, 

allotment holders who have allowed their plots to deteriorate through 

neglect are liable to pay for compensation for dilapidations on quitting. 

Section 9 confines local authorities' obligation to 'allotment gardens'- in 

effect, making 'farm allotments' no longer statutory. 

Section 10 amends the rent collection systems and allotments authorities 

may charge such rent "... as a tenant may reasonably be expected to pay 

for the land". This section also makes provision for the allotments authority 

to let land "... to a person at a less rent, if the Council are satisfied that 

there exist special circumstances affecting the person which render it 

proper for them to let the land at a less rent". 

Section 12 allows certain forms of livestock (hens and rabbits) to be kept 

although this is, in some cases, restricted by local bye-laws. 

Note: Allotment authorities in England and Wales are the district councils and, in Wales, 

community councils or, in England, London Boroughs and parish councils. County councils 

have very few responsibilities with regard to allotments, particularly after the Local Government 

Act 1972.


13 

Although the last Act specifically on allotments was introduced in 1950, many of the provisions 

made by the various Acts up to and including the Allotments Act 1950 have been affected 

by more recent pieces of legislation. For instance, the Local Government Act 1972 amended 

the allotments legislation in a number of matters of detail, for example, removing the 

requirement upon local authorities to establish allotments committees (contained in Section 

12 of the Allotments Act 1925). Similarly, the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 

abolished a number of minor Ministerial controls over a local authority's administration of 

allotments. 

Other Acts which have impacted upon allotments include the Town and Country Planning 

Act 1971, the Local Government and Planning (Amendment) Act 1981 and the Acquisition 

of Land Act 1981. More recently, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1993 repealed various parts 

of the allotments legislation. In 1998 Government introduced a requirement for Local 

Authorities to show the steps it had taken to promote allotments prior to requesting consent 

to dispose of them. This was to identify latent demand due to many people not being aware 

of LA duty to provide allotments. 

Other relevant legislation 

Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 For Open Space, Sport and Recreation 

PPG17 sets out the policies needed to be taken into account by regional and local planning 

authorities in preparing development plans and includes many kinds of open space and 

recreational facility including allotments. It aims to use such facilities to support urban 

renaissance, support rural renewal, promote social inclusion and community cohesion, 

promote health and well being, and promote sustainable development. It requires Local 

Authorities to do an audit of needs and opportunities, set local standards of provision and to 

maintain an adequate supply. It enables local authorities to use planning obligations to remedy 

local deficiencies in quantity and quality of local provision or where the new development 

generates additional need. 

Allotments are uniquely protected through the legislative and planning framework within the 

wider context of a national policy to improve the quality of urban green spaces. 

Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 Housing 

This guidance is significant as it states that allotments are not considered to be “brown field” 

sites or “previously developed land”. This is important as there is encouragement to develop 

brown field sites and PPG3 gives allotments additional protection 

Local Government Act 2000 

Legislation 4 

This Act aims to assist councils in contributing to sustainable development and places a duty 

on them to promote or improve the economic, social and environmental well being of their 

areas thorough Community Strategies which reflect local needs. Central to this is the principle 

of partnerships and involvement of the wider community including minority groups. The Act 

does not authorise councils to raise revenue to promote well being so projects which do not 

involve great cost such as allotments especially in areas needing regeneration or where low 

cost food production will be welcomed.

14 


5 National policy context 

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) 

The DCLG acknowledges that allotments and community gardens are valuable green spaces 

and community assets that can help improve people's quality of life by promoting healthy 

food, exercise and community interaction. The Government recognises the unique role of 

allotments as places which bring all sections of the community together providing opportunities 

for people to grow their own produce as part of the long term promotion of sustainability and 

healthy living. 

The Government's aim is to ensure that allotments are well managed, are considered as part 

of the overall green infrastructure, and are only disposed of where there is no demand for 

them and established criteria have been met. It states that it is committed to working with 

local authorities to promote best practice and ensure quality and appropriate availability now 

and for future generations. The Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional 

Affairs’ fifth report contains the statement: 

“We believe that allotments will often form a component part of a healthy neighbourhood. 

Given the undisputed health benefits of allotments we strongly recommend that they be 

explicitly noted in national public health strategy and integrated into local delivery of the 

strategy particularly for over 50s. We recommend that health authorities recognise and exploit 

the therapeutic potential for allotments for people with mental or physical health problems” 

The Government’s response to this was that it will consider how allotments form a component 

part of Healthy Neighbourhoods policy, recognise the health benefits of allotment gardening 

and will take this into account in a White Paper, but there is no prospect of legislative 

consolidation in the near future. It also stated that it supports the recommendation that private 

allotment providers take a long term approach to managing their sites and that replacement 

sites should normally be within ¾ mile from the centre of demand. 

Dept of Health White Paper November 2004 "Choosing health: making healthy choices 

easier" 

This document sets out the key principles for supporting the public to make healthier and 

more informed choices in regards to their health. It stated that the Government will provide 

information and practical support to get people motivated so that healthy choices are easier 

to make. The associated Physical Activity Delivery Plan covers school PE, sport, transport, 

the use of public open spaces and advice from the NHS. The associated Choosing Better 

Diet Plan covers advertising, obesity prevention, labelling and nutrition in school and hospital. 

National Society of Allotments Gardeners (NSALG) 

The last major national survey of allotments was undertaken by the National Society of 

Allotment and Leisure Gardeners in 1997. It revealed that plots across England were 

disappearing at a rate of 9,400 a year and that the number of people on the waiting list had 

doubled since 1970. The NSALG survey informed a report by the Environment Transport 

and Regional Affairs Select Committee making various recommendations including calling 

for a reform of the legislative framework for allotments. The Government has said that is 

unlikely and went on to produce a best practice guide for Local Authorities in 2001 “Growing 

in the Community” which was reviewed and republished in 2008


15 

National policy context 5 

Local Government Association (LGA): "A new future for allotments"- an advocacy 

document for sustainable living 

This paper encourages the Government to modernise the regulatory framework for allotments 

and to promote their inclusion in national, regional and local policy development. It encourages 

rethinking the role of allotments for sustainable food supplies, healthy activity, education, 

fostering community cohesion, access to nature and wildlife and providing open space in 

local communities. 

It presents a challenge to plot holders and Allotment Associations too to build links with their 

local community and schools to become exemplars of sustainable urban living.

16 


6 Local policy context 

There is tacit support for allotments in many local level policy and strategy documents but 

these benefits need to be more widely acknowledged in the documents when they are 

reviewed by The Council and its partner agencies. 

Taunton Deane Community Strategy 2007- 2017: "Talking Tomorrow's Taunton Deane" 

The Community Strategy is produced by the Local Strategic Partnership for Taunton Deane 

which is comprised of private, public and voluntary organisations. It is the overarching strategic 

document for the borough which directs the content of all other organisation specific 

documents. 

Based on extensive consultation, the Community Strategy envisages Taunton as an important 

sub-regional centre and Wellington as a thriving Market Town. People’s quality of life and 

health will be improved and the quality of the natural and built environments are to be 

enhanced. It also makes a commitment to addressing the effects and causes of climate 

change and envisages equality of access to services, recreation facilities and housing with 

a skilled workforce and convenient transport options. It also envisages greater consumption 

of local food and residents that pay an active role in their communities. 

The document is set out under several themes each with a number of priorities. Those relevant 

to allotments are: 

Table 6.1 

Priority 

number 

9 

Statement 

“to promote and enable 

healthy lifestyles” 

Key issues identified that could be addressed 

in part through allotments 

There is a need to address the predicted rise in 

obesity, the rising percentage of older people will 

need appropriate activities. 

This will be demonstrated by: 

Increasing numbers of people taking regular 

physical activity; 

Increasing numbers of older people who are 

active; 

Increasing the consumption of fruit and 

vegetables. 

11 

13 

Climate change 

“to promote equality and 

diversity” 

“ensuring all new developments are sustainably 

built” 

Improve community cohesion


17 

Local policy context 6 

18 and 21 

“to promote healthy 

lifestyles” in North and East 

Taunton respectively. 

To be achieved partly by increasing the 

consumption of fruit and vegetables. 

Taunton Deane Corporate Strategy 2009-2012 

This is where the council identifies what it is going to do to address the issues raised in the 

Community Strategy. It has a stated vision of “making life better for people and communities” 

it also states that the Council’s business principles are: 

Excellent Services (ensuring the delivery of accessible, high quality services that provide 

good value for money; 

Customer driven (putting the needs of individual customers at the heart of what we do); 

Local focus (making a positive difference to quality of life in communities; 

A dynamic organisation (innovative, forward-looking and focussed on results). 

There is an objective about healthy lifestyles (Objective 14 Community Support and Healthy 

lifestyles) but it has no specific action involving allotments. This document is being reviewed 

for 2010 and the emerging priorities include dealing with climate change and addressing 

deprivation. 

Equalities Scheme 

Taunton Deane Borough Council’s commitment in this document is: 

“TDBC values diversity and believes that all people have the right to be treated with dignity 

and respect. WE aim to promote equality of opportunity in our role as a service provider, 

policy maker, employer, purchaser of goods and services, and elected leader. 

“We will oppose all forms of discrimination whether on grounds of disability, gender, ethnicity, 

sexuality, age, marital status, religion, national origin or other condition or requirement which 

may place a person or group at a disadvantage” 

The Taunton Deane area has a population of 106,300 of which 60% live in Taunton. There 

are a higher proportion of women than men. 

18% have a limiting long-term illness. 2.3% are of minority ethnic origin and this is rising, and 

the average age is 41, higher that the national average. 

The Council could make more use of its position as landlord to many allotment sites and 

promote equal access and equal opportunity. Whilst there is a local and national trend towards 

more women allotments gardeners, the profile of plot holders in Taunton Deane does not 

reflect the ethnic makeup of the area. No information is published in languages or accessible 

formats. 

There is also no consistent provision for people with disabilities on most allotment sites.

18 


6 Local policy context 

Regional Spatial Strategy 

This document designated Taunton as a Strategically Significant City or Town anticipating 

that it will grow significantly in the coming decades with around thousands of new homes by 

2026. Some of this will be large urban extensions where there would be an opportunity to 

provide new allotment sites. Although this document is now being reviewed, it is important 

to ensure that land is allocated for allotments within the new urban extensions regardless of 

their scale. 

Local Plan: Open Space 

This document controls the distribution of types of land use in the Borough. There are no 

specific policies requiring allotment provision. However policy C3 states that allotments are 

a recreational open space and are protected from development in the policy. 

Local Plan: Biodiversity 

Policy E5 sets out the protection of various species of which the most common are badgers, 

bats, otters, dormice and great crested newts. 

Policy E6 protects trees and hedges. 

There are likely to be instances of these species of animals and of significant trees and 

hedges on allotment sites. Allotment Associations should receive advice and assistance to 

identify wildlife and to ensure they manage their sites appropriately. 

Local Development Framework 

The Local Plan will be superceded by the Local Development Framework in the coming 

years. There is a need for allotments to be recognised in this document in order to ensure 

adequate plots are secured in new housing developments and that where there is potential 

to improve the ability of existing sites to accommodate more plots, the funding is available 

to do so. By adopting this Allotments Policy and Strategy as a Supporting Document and 

Supporting Evidence it will be possible to ensure adequate provision of allotments in new 

developments. 

The Somerset Biodiversity Action Plan 2008-18 

This document aims to represent a long term blueprint for conservation in the county. The 

Action Plan for this document includes the aim to promote the role of gardens in wildlife 

habitats and promote wildlife-friendly gardening. This is delivered by Somerset Wildlife Trust 

through the provision of an advisory service. 

Taunton Town Centre Area Action Plan 

TauntonTown centre will have at least 2,200 new homes as part of mixed use development 

on four sites in the Town Centre alone in coming years. In the most part this will be multi-storey 

blocks of flats or town houses. Either way there will be very limited provision of gardens and 

no provision of new allotments. Where there are landlocked areas of land there may be a 

possibility of creating allotments which do not need vehicle access.


19 

Local policy context 6 

Local Area Agreement 

This is the delivery plan for the Somerset Community Strategy and is an agreement between 

the Government, Local Councils and other key service providers. It runs for 3 years with an 

annual refresher. The challenges in the LAA of relevance to allotments include: 

Table 6.2 

LAA 

Challenge 

number 

18 

19 

Statement of intent 

Support older people to enjoy good 

health and wellbeing 

Improve the mental health and 

wellbeing of individuals and 

communities 

Increase preventative and treatment 

opportunities to reduce obesity 

Promote healthy lifestyles 

Encourage adults, children and families 

to take part in physical activity. 

Relevance 

Older people are still most likely to find 

allotment gardening a suitable activity 

Allotment gardening can alleviate 

mental health problems as it is 

outdoor, success is achievable for 

everyone and it can be interactive. 

There is physical effort in gardening 

that is suitable for all ages and 

families. 

Somerset Primary Care Trust Strategy: Improving Health and Reducing Health 

Inequalities 

The White Paper Making Health Choices Easier identified the underlying determinants of 

health as poverty, poor educational achievement, unemployment, poor housing, 

homelessness, problems in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and within ethnic minorities. 

The PCT strategy aims to contribute to achieving the targets of reducing health inequality by 

10% by 2010. The Strategy sees the most effective ways of doing this are: 

Preventing poor diet; 

Taking steps to reduce obesity; 

Promoting physical activity; 

Targeting the over 50s. 

It has the tools of The Five A Day programme to raise the consumption of fruit and vegetables 

especially in disadvantaged areas and raising physical activity levels including walking and 

cycling. There is a multi-agency Physical Activity Plan to be developed for Somerset which 

the Council needs to engage with.

20 


7 Audit of allotment provision 

Introduction 

It is estimated that since 1969 some 30% of the allotment land has been lost irrevocably in 

the UK. In Taunton Deane over the last decades, a great deal of allotment land has been 

lost to development or other land uses. The Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and 

City Farms, carried out by the University of Derby on behalf of the Department for Communities 

and Local Government in 2006 showed that the national average provision was 7 plots per 

thousand population compared to a national recommended standard of 20 plots per thousand 

households, or just under 9 plots per thousand population. 

Local Audit of Allotments 

1. Quantity 

To meet the NSALG standard of 20 plots per 1000 households (47,686 currently) in the 

borough there should be 27.66 Hectares (20 x 290 m2 x 47.686 = 27.66Hectares) which 

would be 2,555 square metres per thousand people. The Audit found that there is 26.08 

hectares of allotment land which is only a little short of the NSALG recommended amount. 

Despite this there are significant waiting lists in the Borough suggesting that the NSALG 

standard is no longer suitable for the current situation. 

The chart below shows the actual amount of allotment land per thousand people in each 

ward. There are several wards with no allotments at all and a number which are below the 

standard. However some are more than adequately provided for which reflects the ability 

and motivation of people to travel. 

Picture 7.1


21 

Table 7.1 

Audit of allotment provision 7 

Ward Name 

Population 

Allotment 

(hectares) 

Area 

Area per 1000 

pop’n in 

square metres 

Bishop's Hull 

3,952 

0.2659 

673 

Bishop's Lydeard 

6,529 

0.3607 

552 

Blackdown * 

2,153 

0.00 

0 

Bradford-on-Tone 

2,253 

0.00 

0 

Comeytrowe 

5,857 

1.4751 

2,519 

Milverton and North Deane 

1,907 

1.0323 

5,413 

Monument 

2,107 

0.00 

0 

Neroche 

2,138 

0.0989 

463 

North Curry and Stoke St Gregory 

3,239 

0.4268 

1,318 

Norton Fitzwarren 

2,525 

1.6080 

6,368 

Ruishton and Creech 

3,916 

0.00 

0 

Staplegrove 

3,937 

0.00 

0 

Taunton Blackbrook and Holway 

6,618 

0.7218 

1,091 

Taunton Eastgate 

3,729 

0.00 

0 

Taunton Fairwater 

5,939 

4.4880 

7,557 

Taunton Halcon 

6,708 

2.9445 

4,390 

Taunton Killams and Mountfield 

4,228 

0.5940 

1,405 

Taunton Lyngford 

5,437 

4.0854 

7,514 

Taunton Manor and Wilton 

4,937 

0.2921 

592 

Taunton Pyrland and Rowbarton 

6,316 

1.7665 

2,797 

Trull 

1,956 

0.4040 

2,065 

Wellington East 

3,445 

0.00 

0 

Wellington North 

4,079 

0.9284 

2,276 

Wellington Rockwell Green and 

West 

5,959 

3.4971 

5,869 

West Monkton 

4,548 

0.1074 

236

22 



Wiveliscombe and West Deane 

3,829 

0.9816 

2,564 

Totals 

108,241 

26.0785 

NSALG standard 

27.66 

2,555 

* excludes allotment land not 

currently in use 

Wellington - all wards 

13,483 

4.4255 

3,282 

There are a number of issues arising from this data: 

People with no transport are unable to travel long distances for a plot 

In rural areas there may not be a sufficient number of people to make a site feasible, 

The LDF must make provision for new allotments in the wards with few or no allotments 

which are likely to have urban extensions eg West Monkton, Taunton Killams and 

Mountfield, East Wellington, Bishops Hull, Taunton Pyrland and Rowbarton, Staplegrove. 

Some wards have a significant population and known demand but no prospect of urban 

development eg Bishops Lydeard, Eastgate, Ruishton and Creech, Taunton Blackbrook 

and Holway, Taunton Manor and Wilton where efforts need to be made by the relevant 

council to fulfil demand 

Most Allotment Associations divide the plots to provide two smaller ones as these are 

more suitable to the needs of growers today. (A standard allotment plot is 10 yards by 

30 yards which equals 10 poles, or about 250 sq metres (9m x 27m). This ancient 

standard size may be considered inappropriate now) 

2. Accessibility or the location of allotments 

The location of allotments is important in relation to where people live and their ability to get 

to the site. Due to the difficulty of getting a plot many are now taken by people travelling quite 

long distances: for example Turners in Taunton has people from Bishops Lydeard and Norton 

Fitzwarren. There is reluctance once a plot holder has invested time, money and energy in 

getting their plot in order, to move to a more local site even if one is available. So whilst 

getting a good distribution of sites is important especially to fill gaps where there are none 

at all, the supply has to be considered on the borough wide scale 

A Turners plot holder commented in the survey: 

“Travelling to and fro is quite time consuming and expensive so I feel that the rural areas of 

Cotford, Norton and Bishops Lydeard could do with more sites to accommodate villagers”


23 

Audit of allotment provision 7 

Another Taunton plot holder said: 

“Although I live between Wellington and Milverton I was not able to get an allotment in either. 

As it is I work part time in Taunton and share the veg I grow plus rhubarb with several members 

of my family who live in Taunton and in exchange they give me hot dinners! Honest! ……..The 

Committee members have made me very welcome but for all that I feel it is sad that my 

efforts to get an allotment nearer to home have fallen on deaf ears” 

In terms of sustainability it is important that new sites are well located in relation to public 

transport and homes. 

3. Quality 

There is no legal requirement for The Council to provide anything other than land for allotments 

– no fencing, paths or other facilities. 

An assessment of the quality of local allotment provision was undertaken by officers from 

Taunton Deane Borough Council in 2008 using both site visits and information provided by 

the allotment associations and managing organisations. 

Fourteen sites were involved and criteria assessed were maintenance and management, 

facilities, community involvement and promotion, sustainability and conservation. 

Overall the average score for quality is 45 out of 100 with the aspects most in need of 

improvement being facility provision and community involvement and promotion. The highest 

scoring site achieved 74 and the lowest 38. The difference between the minimum and 

maximum scores achieved highlight that some sites are of a much better quality than others. 

The scores were as follows: 

Table 7.2 

Area 

Max score 

possible 

Average score 

achieved 

Max score 

achieved 

Min score 

achieved 

Management and 

maintenance 

40 

21 

15 

25 

Facilities 

20 

7 

9 

7 

Community involvement and 

promotion 

20 

7 

11 

3 

Sustainability and 

conservation 

20 

10 

14 

8 

From this work it appears that the areas to concentrate on for improving quality are facility 

provision and sustainability / conservation.

24 



In Taunton’s unparished area, the allotment sites owned by The Council are all managed by 

local allotment associations. This is known as devolved management and the Allotments 

Associations are semi autonomous. This means that the land is leased to the association 

which is obliged to fulfil the terms of the lease regarding the maintenance of the site and 

other details, but can make all other management decisions itself including setting the per 

plot rents and deciding on the allocation of and subdivision of plots. The system of devolved 

management saves the council money as it does not have to manage the sites or maintain 

them or handle the rents etc 

The London Borough of Bromley annual surveys its self-managed Allotment Associations to 

ascertain tenancy rates, rents, facility provision, the business plan and intentions to improve 

services, funding situation. Council officers and Members discuss the findings with the 

Associations which helps the council to plan its own investment and maintenance regimes. 

A plot holder commented: 

“It would be nice to have an association of Taunton plot holders where you could swap seeds 

and advice” 

The promotion of allotments is something that is the Council’s responsibility overall, and one 

of the barriers to having an allotment is identified by people is lack of information. There 

needs to be a clear simple process for getting a plot or onto a waiting list, signs at each site 

should give contacts and availability, contacts for the Council. 

However, the Allotment Associations have concerns that publicising the allotment sites will 

increase the likelihood of crime and that there is no scope currently to fulfil any new demand 

generated. There should be a periodic review of the promotion of allotments to ensure that 

the Council is fulfilling its responsibilities. 

Conclusions: 

Whilst there seems to be an overall level of provision in line with NSALG 

recommendations, this is not evenly distributed 

There is considerable demand despite levels of provision meeting NSALG 

recommendations 

The LDF must make provision where appropriate for new allotment sites 

Taunton Deane Borough Council must respond to the demand in the unparished area 

of Taunton 

Parish Councils must do likewise where there is demand 

New sites must be located close to residential areas 

Sustainability must be considered as sites develop 

Wildlife must be considered in maintenance regimes 

More appropriate facilities must be provided 

Promotion of allotments must be improved


25 

Consultation review 8 

Local Consultation undertaken for the development of the Strategy includes: 

The local open spaces survey 2005; 

A plot holder survey in 2007; 

Consultation with the Allotment Associations over 2006-7; 

Comments from attendees at the Get Growing Show in 2007; 

Public and Stakeholder consultation in 2010. 

2005 Open Space Survey 

The biannual open space survey undertaken in 2005 was sent out to over 5,000 homes in 

the borough and was returned by 727 people. It included a section about allotments. 

Only 25 or 3.3 % of the727 respondents stated that they currently have an allotment, but 346 

said that the following barriers prevented them from having an allotment 

Lack of time 48% 

Don’t know how to find out about getting one 19% 

Don’t know how to grow plants and vegetables 12% 

No allotments available locally 11% 

Disability or poor health 4% 

Age 3% 

Miscellaneous other reasons 3% 

This information cannot be taken to mean that 35% of the residents of the Borough are waiting 

to rent an allotment, but it does show that there is latent demand for allotments ie that there 

are people who are interested and might be interested enough to put their name onto a 

waiting list if the barriers were reduced. The barriers they identified are set out in the table 

below:

26 


8 Consultation review 

Table 8.1 

Barrier 

Lack of time 

Information 

Knowledge and 

skills 

The availability of 

allotments 

Comments 

This is largely an issue of perception and priorities. There are possibilities 

to share allotments or make them a family activity which could be 

explored. The fact that people bothered to give it as a barrier does show 

some level of interest 

People seem to have difficulty in finding information about the location 

and availability of allotment plots. There is no formal mechanism for 

information about supply and demand to be shared. Promotion of 

allotments is the responsibility of the Council. The website, leaflets and 

the media are ways to deal with this. 

There is a lack of knowledge about growing plants and vegetables among 

a number of people. Acquiring these skills could help with achieving 

sustainability and good health. The Allotment Associations could be 

encouraged to pass on skills in a more formal way through open days 

and classes 

There are not sufficient plots available to address waiting lists so many 

people don’t register their interest as they don’t think it will result in them 

getting a plot. This is called latent demand and is notoriously difficult to 

assess but does need to be taken into account in calculating how much 

land is needed in the future. 

2007 Questionnaire to Plot Holders 

This survey covered a selection of sites both in Taunton, Wellington and the parishes returned 

by just over 300 people from 18 sites. The key findings were: 

Table 8.2 

15% had cultivated their plots for 

over 20 years 

11% had had their plot for less 

than one year 

29% had 2 or more plots 

These people are the backbone of the allotment culture 

and must have a great deal of knowledge which they 

could pass on to newcomers 

This figure was lower than expected 

This is especially common at Turners, Priorswood and 

Rowbarton and reflects the past situation of surplus 

plots. A plot holder said in the survey: 

“I have a double plot at Rockwell Green and have just 

taken over a plot at the Basins to grow crops and raise 

chickens” 

A central waiting list would help to make sure multiple 

plots are not inadvertently provided


27 


29% share their plot with one or 

more people 

77% always or sometimes travel 

to their plot on foot, bicycle or 

car-sharing 

48% sometimes or always drive to 

their plot 

72% grow organically 

91% have a compost heap 

94% use water 

Whilst this is a good way to get beginners and some 

people into allotment gardening, it masks the demand 

levels as some people are saying that half or quarter 

plots are not sufficient. 

Provision of sheds would help so that tools don’t have 

to be transported. 

Locating new plots close to homes is vital to discourage 

driving 

This is great and should be celebrated. There are some 

issues being raised about disposal of non compostable 

rubbish and bonfires. 

A number of people asked if the Council could facilitate 

such things as free or cheap water butts, compost bins, 

compost, unused excess materials, collected leaves, 

the removal of non compostable waste 

Security: Various issues were 

raised in the open comments 

section of the questionnaire 

outlining issues of trespass and 

minor theft 

Toilets 

These are the responsibility of plot holders and the 

Allotment Associations though the Council or Police 

may be able to help to address them 

This was raised by a number of people on different sites 

as being something that the changing profile of plot 

holders is making more necessary 

Allotment Association Meetings 

For many years allotment sites in the Borough have been self managed and Taunton Deane 

Borough Council has had very little contact with them apart from rent reviews, ad hoc landlord 

issues and the annual plot holder’s competition. Over a period of 2 years several meetings 

were held with representatives of Allotment Associations both those which are Council tenants 

and those which are not including some Parish Council representatives. 

The meetings were intended to explore any issues with which the Council could assist and 

to discuss progress on developing the Strategy. The regular issues that arose at these 

meetings were:

28 



Table 8.3 

Toilets 

Security: Theft of tools 

and equipment 

The lack of on site toilet facilities is an issue especially for women, 

but the cost of installing mains toilets is high as are the maintenance 

costs associated such as sewage and water charges. Composting 

toilets are being tried at Turners Allotments and may be the way 

forward for the future 

Kirkby in Ashfield, (Nottingham) has a “plot Watch scheme run with 

the police and council and encourages crime reporting and postcode 

marking of tools etc. 

There is anecdotal evidence that engaging the community through 

open days can help to reduce this 

Investment 

Promotion 

Boundary 

Maintenance 

Responsibilities 

Sustainability 

Access and Inclusion 

Plot sizes 

Some Associations don’t have the confidence or capability to access 

external funds and need support to do so 

Support for general promotion of allotments to raise their profile via 

website. 

This varies among TDBC tenants for historic reasons but is set out 

in the leases and need explaining 

Low level of interest in sustainability issues from some Associations 

but this is not borne out in the results of the plot holder 

questionnaires. 

Low level of recognition of disability issues among the Associations 

and they need support to address this important issue 

Acceptance that subdivision of plots is a good way to deal with rising 

demand and that the traditional plot is too big for modern household 

needs 

Get Growing Show comments 

Get Growing was a small event held in October 2007 to promote growing your own food and 

to showcase allotments. 47 questionnaires were completed at the show by members of the 

public mostly from the TA1 postcode area. 

Most people wanted to be able to have a plot that was up to 10 minutes walk from their home. 

At a walking speed of 4.5 kilometres per hour this equates to roughly 750 metres and fits 

well with the NSALG recommended standard of 1 kilometre. 

25% of respondents were families; 

60% were existing allotment gardeners; 

66% were women;


29 

92% of respondents said the Council should provide more plots; 

85% said they wanted fresh food; 

80% said allotments are good for the community and for socialising; 

78% said environmental issues are important; 

75% said passing on skills is important; 

68% said food miles was an important reason for having an allotment; 

64% said they have a plot to save money. 


Barriers to having an allotment given were: 

Garden is too small; 

All I have is patio; 

No time; 

Ruishton has no allotments. 

Other comments include: 

Something families can do together; 

Minimises our "footprint" ie greener; 

Makes our community more sustainable; 

More plots needed; (5) 

Will encourage healthy eating; 

Make young families a target group; 

Teach families how to grow vegetables. 

Somerset Access and Inclusion Network Meeting 

A discussion with this group identified that disabled plot holders are assisted if they need to 

be, but that the provision of 2 metre by 1 metre raised beds on some plots would be very 

welcome.

30 



Conclusions 

The main issues the Strategy needs to address are: 

Effective promotion of allotment including availability, location, image of plot holders, 

how to approach the Parish Council to provide land; 

Teaching basics about growing to new comers by experienced growers; 

Control of waiting lists; 

Location of new sites within walking distance of homes; 

Provision of toilets and facilities; 

More coordinated approach to wildlife habitat and impact of maintenance practices on 

sites; 

Funding advice; 

Disability.


31 

Why we need a local standard developed for Taunton Deane: 

The allotment strategy identifies existing shortfalls in provision and sets out how to secure 

the right amount, type and quality of facilities in relation to the existing need and the anticipated 

population growth of the Borough as well as prioritisation of efforts to deal with it. It will 

ensure that facilities are developed and managed in the most appropriate way with associated 

Policies and form part of the information base for the statutory local planning policy. 

Whenever there is a new housing development proposed, the developer can be required to 

provide and layout new allotments for the new residents. Where there are too few houses 

being built to justify a new allotment site, a financial contribution can be demanded based 

on the cost of setting out the relevant proportion of an allotment site. 

The standard will be an aspiration for existing allotment sites and used to prioritise requests 

for assistance. 

Quantity 

Developing a standard 9 

There is a short fall in the Borough of Taunton Deane of 1.58 hectares of allotment land 

against the minimum recommended standard; which is compounded by long waiting lists 

and unknown latent demand. 

Currently the borough has 26.08 hectares of allotment land which at 290 square metres per 

plot is the equivalent of 899 full size plots. With a population of 107,400 people (1) in 47,686 

households, (2) this is equivalent to 18.9 full size plots per thousand households in the borough 

– slightly below the NSALG recommendation which in Taunton Deane would mean 27.66 

hectares of land should be provided. 

There are currently waiting lists at every site with some sites estimating people will be waiting 

for 3 years. There is considerable latent demand – people who are interested but haven’t 

joined the waiting list such as the 50 people in Cotford St Luke who have said they would 

take a plot if a site can be found in the village and 15 at Ruishton and nearly 80 in Wellington. 

Wellington has been used to calculate the quantity standard for the borough because it is a 

well defined area of 3 wards with a population profile that is broadly similar to the borough 

as a whole. Its existing plot holders are largely from within the 3 wards (unlike Taunton where 

the sites draw from much wider areas) and most site managers hold waiting lists so demand 

is known. 

The adopted quantity standard for the borough is 15.4 square metres per dwelling. This 

amount of land should be provided on- site for all new developments over 376 dwellings 

and an off-site contribution in lieu of £154 per dwelling collected on smaller developments. 

1 Taunton Deane Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2006-7, Pg. 8 

2 Office of National Statistics Household estimates for 2006

32 


9 Developing a standard 

The calculation of the standard is set out below and is expressed in terms of the area of land 

per dwelling so that is in line with other standards used by the council such as play space, 

pitches etc. The council has calculated that 290 square metres of land is needed to provide 

one full size allotment plot. 

Table 9.1 

Current area of allotment land in Wellington and 

Rockwell Green 

Current population 

Current provision in Wellington per person 

44,300 square metres 

13,483 

3.29 square metres 

NSALG recommended provision of 20 plots per 

thousand households applied to Wellington (where 

there are 5860 and an average of 2.3 people per 

dwelling) 

Unmet demand as shown in the waiting lists at 

September 2009 

41 Basins 

15 All Saints Rockwell Green 

10 Northside Rockwell Green 

12 Burchills,Tonedale 

Tone Hill, Tonedale - plots are now 

privately owned by plot holders so 

there is no waiting list 

Total 78 people 

Estimate of latent demand ie people who don’t put 

their names on the waiting list as it is too long 

Total estimated unmet demand 

Area of land needed to provide 160 extra full size 

plots 

Total area of land to provide for existing users and 

existing unmet demand in Wellington 

Area of land per thousand dwellings 

THE STANDARD: AREA OF LAND PER DWELLING 

Number of full size plots per thousand households 

Estimate 78 people 

158 people 

158 x 290 square metres = 45,820 sq 

m 

44,300 + 45,820 = 90,120 

90,120/5.86 = 15,379 

15.4 square meters 

90,120/290/5.86 = 53


33 

Developing a standard 9 

Developer contributions 

A Taunton plot holder said: 

“We feel that is should be a requirement upon builders and developers to make provision for 

new residents to have access to their own allotments and to pay for their establishment and 

provision. Turner’s allotments have no vacancies and with Taunton’s growing population we 

feel more should be done to encourage individuals to produce their own family’s food. This 

would improve their health, diet and the environment” 

The Council’s Parks Manager considers that for a site to be easily manageable there needs 

to be 50 plots on a site. The regional NSALG director concurs with this assessment. This 

does not mean that smaller sites are not viable simply that they are less efficient use of land. 

By measuring the existing allotment sites it was found that a single full size plot requires 290 

square metres of land. A site of 50 plots would serve a development of 942 dwellings and 

is estimated (by DLO and Property Services) to cost £145,000 to layout with all services and 

facilities, but excluding the land cost. A small site with 20 plots will be 5,800 sq m and would 

be triggered by developments of 376 dwellings. This should be the minimum size of site 

provided. 

The charge per dwelling for off-site provision on developments of less than 376 or those 

where there is no room to provide an allotment site and there is a known deficiency in provision 

is £154 per dwelling. Sums collected will either be pooled to provide new provision if suitable 

sites can be identified or invested in improving existing sites where there is room to increase 

the number of plots. Where development is in a parished area, land or money will be 

transferred to TDBC and either passed to the Parish Council to discharge its duty in connection 

with allotments or to an organisation nominated in the S106. 

The profile of allotment users has changed in recent years and is now much broader. It is 

proposed that only dwellings intended for sheltered housing for the elderly should be exempt 

from making a contribution towards allotments.

34 


9 Developing a standard 

Quality standard 

Taking the audit, consultation and research into account the quality standard for allotments 

in Taunton Deane is: 




and easy to get around with appropriate provision for people with disabilities. 

Allotment sites will be welcoming to people from all parts of the community, with support 

for first time growers and encouragement for sustainable cultivation practices. Sites will 

be managed to benefit wildlife and maintain good soil quality. 

Access 

Consultation at the Get Growing event held in Taunton found that people would ideally like 

to be able to walk up to 10 minutes to a plot from their homes. This translates into 750 metres 

but it is considered that the national recommendation of 1kilometre distance from homes is 

a reasonable proposition. 

The access element of the standard will therefore be: 

Allotments will be provided within 1kilometre of new homes.


35 

A policy for allotments 10 

Taunton Deane Borough Council recognises that the provision of allotments for residents 

is an important contributor to the well-being of the community. Growing flowers, fruit and 

vegetables on allotment sites provides an important opportunity for community interaction, 

for physical activity, healthy eating and recycling. 

The Council has adopted a standard of 15.4 square metre of allotment land per dwelling 

which it will seek to provide and will require to be provided on new developments of 376 

houses or more. Smaller developments will make a contribution in lieu of provision to 

be used to improve existing sites. 

Actions 

The Council will seek to: 

Monitor any unmet demand for allotments in relation to the adopted standard; 

Investigate possible solutions to any unmet demand and promote the provision of 

new allotment sites where they are needed; 

Support the improvement of existing allotment sites to enable more people to share 

the benefits of allotments; 

Support the development of horticultural knowledge and skills with a particular 

emphasis on food growing both on allotments and in containers; 

Encourage the adoption of organic and sustainable cultivation 

allotments. 

methods on 

Outcomes 

Through so doing The Council aims to: 

Increase the numbers and diversity of people growing their own food; 

Increase levels of consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables across the community 

with special emphasis in North and East Taunton; 

Contribute to raising physical activity levels especially among older people; 

Provide opportunities for social interaction and community integration; 

Contribute to environmental improvements and use of sustainable growing methods; 

Raise skill and knowledge levels of horticulture and cultivation; 

Improve the health of the community.

36 


11 Monitor, Review and Refresh 

This allotments strategy will be reviewed after 5 years at which time the quality assessment 

and audit will be updated; and policies, standards and the vision amended as required. 

The quantity element of the allotment standard will be reviewed every year based on 

information collected on waiting lists at the various allotments sites around the borough. 

An action plan will be drawn up on the issues identified; implementation and the aspirations 

of the allotment policy. The Equalities Impact Assessment will be incorporated into the Action 

Plan. The Plan will be be reviewed annually. 

A progress report against the Action Plan will be distributed to stakeholders and councillors 

once a year.


Executive Summary 

Taunton Deane Borough Council recognises that the provision of allotments for residents is 

an important contributor to the well-being of the community. It is widely accepted that 

allotments can improve local diet especially in deprived wards, increase the amount of food 

locally produced, reduce obesity and increase physical activity. With an adopted Allotment 

Strategy the authority is able to deliver on local and economic agendas for the community 

which include community cohesion, education, recycling, health and the environment. 

To this end the Council has adopted an allotment strategy to provide guidance; standards, 

policies and monitoring which will enable all who wish to grow vegetables and fruit on an 

allotment to have the opportunity to do so at the earliest possibility and within a reasonable 

distance of their home. 

Definition 

One full sized allotment plot should be 290 square metre. 

Access Standard 

Allotments should be provided within 1 kilometre of new homes. 

Quantity Standard 

15.4 square metres of allotment land per dwelling. Land should be provided on-site for 

all new developments over 376 dwellings with off-site contribution in lieu of £154 per 

dwelling collected on smaller developments. 

Quality Standard 




and easy to get around with appropriate provision for people with disabilities. Allotment 

sites will be welcoming to people from all parts of the community, with support for first 

time growers and encouragement for sustainable cultivation practices. Sites will be 

managed to benefit wildlife and maintain good soil quality. 

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide allotments where there is proven demand; 

the responsibility for provision within the boundaries of Town or Parish councils lies with 

those local councils, the District Council has no powers to act in any manner over allotments. 

The Council will also seek to; monitor any unmet demand for allotments and investigate 

possible solutions to it, support the improvement of existing allotment sites and the 

development of horticultural knowledge and skills. 

Cllr Cathrine Herbert, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Parks and 

Leisure

If you require further information about 

this Strategy please contact: 

Strategy and Corporate, 

Taunton Deane Borough Council, The Deane House, 

Belvedere Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HE. 

Tel: 01823 356356 

Email: strategy@tauntondeane.gov.uk 

If you would like this document translated 

into other languages or in Braille, large print, 

audio tape, or CD please telephone us on 

01823 356356 or email us at: 

strategy@tauntondeane.gov.uk 


01823 356356 

01823 356356 


01823 356356 


01823 356356 


01823 356356 


Taunton Deane Design & Print 

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Allotment Strategy (TDBC) - Taunton Deane Borough Council

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