‘Thin end of the veg’ warning on allotments in planning shake-up

Members of the Leeds and District Gardeners’ Federation say a relaxation of planning laws could put sites at risk of being sold on to developers at a time when there is a high demand from the public to grow their own food.

Its concerns follow the sale of two allotment sites in the Rothwell area of the city.

Mr Ian Wood, chairman of the federation, told a recent deputation to Leeds City Council, which will be discussed by senior councillors this week, of his concerns.

“Relaxation of the planning laws, as you will be aware, has opened the door even wider for developers....

“Rothwell is currently a prime example of this. Two sites have been sold, over a hundred years of allotment heritage is going down the drain as we speak and there is a possible loss to the community of a fantastic community asset,” he said.

He also called for sites to be out on the register of community assets. A report to members says a new scheme is set to come into place which will allow community organisations to register land and property as assets of community value. If a landowner decides to sell, the community will be given up to six months to raise funds and put a bid together to buy it, with the owner unable to sell to anybody else during this period.

Members of the council’s executive board are being advised to approve allotments being put on a list of assets of community value when they meet tomorrow.

Both the Victoria Pit Allotment and Reservoir Allotment, both in Rothwell, have been used to grow food for over a hundred years.

A report to members of the council’s executive says: “The deputation makes specific reference to two allotments sites in Rothwell which have recently been sold. The sites in question are Victoria Pit Allotment and Reservoir Allotment which until recently were in the ownership of the same private landowner and subject to a lease agreement with the council.

“Victoria Pit Allotment has 59 plot holders and the site has been in use for an allotment over 100 years. The council put in a bid to purchase the site consistent with the view of the market valuation but unfortunately was unsuccessful. “This site remains the subject of a lease to the council and under the terms of the current lease, the landlord could put the council on 12 months notice to quit on or before February 2013. However, to secure the future of the site, the council is seeking to put in place a new 10 year tenancy with a fixed term of 5 years meaning that notice of vacant possession could not be served until this period had elapsed. This should ensure that this site will remain in allotment use for the foreseeable future.”

Reservoir Allotment has 14 plot holders and under the terms of the existing lease, the new landlord has given notice to quit in order to secure vacant possession by February 2013. Negotiations are continuing to establish a new lease agreement. If agreements cannot be reached other options could be considered including providing an alternative site or considering a land swap.

National planning guidance changed earlier this year. It recommends that open space, sports and recreational land and buildings should not be developed unless it is surplus to requirements, will be replaced by better or equivalent provision or the development is for identical or better sports facilities.

Members will be told of the increased demand for allotments when they meet tomorrow.

The report says: “Demand for allotments has increased over recent years and there are considerable waiting lists in some areas of the city.”

An earlier report, published last year, identified the need to increase the numbers of allotment sites in the city. Councillors will be told tomorrow that the local authority is keen to bring more allotment plots into use.

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