Page 16 - ALG Issue 4 2023

Encouraging Allotments in New Developments
The National Allotment Society has recently taken a proactive approach to engaging with new housing developments – to encourage allotments to be incorporated into residential building plans.
In 2021 NAS identified a new trend in the provision of allotments. We noticed that housing developers were starting to include new allotment sites in plans. Although historically we were more familiar with fending off developers, we decided to proactively engage with the creation of these new allotment sites. Alongside this new trend, the NAS also noticed an increase in local council planning officers approaching us for advice and guidance on the installation of these new allotment sites.
Considering this was an exciting opportunity to encourage new allotment provision, we took a proactive approach and created the ‘NAS Planners and Developers Service’. This is a bespoke service, with specialist advice unique to each new allotment site being planned. The new service
is brought together by a team of
NAS staff, volunteers, and building professionals who kindly provide pro bono support. For example, NAS legal staff provide advice on tenure, a retired architect provides professional plans and drawings, meanwhile NAS regional representatives provide advice on
local good practice and infrastructure requirements. Meetings are done via Zoom, with local site visits if necessary. All of this helps to bring planners and developers to a stage where new plotholders can enter the site.
During our discussions with developers, we realised that – although they are experts in building houses – they have little or no experience of how to go about setting up brand new allotment sites or how sites are managed. Although it is up to the landowner to
decide how the new allotment site
is managed, NAS provides detailed information on tenure and self- management. We advise that the best way to secure long term
tenure and protection for the new allotment
site is to have the developer hand
over the new site
to the local council
which then sets up
a long-term lease
with an allotment
association formed
by the new plotholders
with NAS support. As
you can imagine, all of
this takes hard work,
negotiation (and a little
compromise along the way
from all parties) but the end
result ensures more allotments for people who want them, and NAS hopes the new sites will relieve some pressure from waiting lists.
In 2023, an examination of planning applications shows that there are
now over 100 planning applications
for new housing developments which include new allotment sites. Allotment sites incorporated into new housing developments are now firmly on the drawing board and NAS are proud to have played an instrumental part in bringing these new allotment sites into fruition.
Enquiries about NAS Planners and Developers Service should be directed to Head Office.
Our developer’s guide ‘21st Century Allotments in New Developments’ is available to view online: www.nsalg.org. uk/21st-century-allotments-in-new- developments
We took a proactive approach and created the NAS Planners and Developers Service.
16 Allotment and Leisure Gardener