Quick-guide to Allotments

Allotments gardens are small plots of land rented to individuals for the sole purpose of non-commercial growing of vegetables, fruit and flowers.

There are three main types: statutory, temporary, and private allotments.

Statutory allotments are only ever provided by local councils, via the Allotment Act (1908) and with protection under the Allotments Act (1925). This type of allotment is designated specifically for allotment use and cannot be sold or repurposed, without following a specific legal process. This legal status attempts to provide strong protection against development. If statutory allotments are disposed of, they must be replaced by equal or better provision.

Temporary allotments are also provided by councils for allotment use but are not officially designated as such. Historically, they were often provided on surplus land awaiting future development or use, e.g. cemeteries. Because they lack statutory status, temporary allotments can be reclaimed by the council at relatively short notice. There is no automatic, time-based provision for a site to become ‘statutory’.

Private allotments 

There is a lot of misinformation at present about Private allotments, how they work, what they do, and where the rent money goes. 

Private allotments can be owned and managed by private individuals, companies, or organizations such as charities, Community Interest Companies, housing associations. They existed before Council Allotments and acted as a form of welfare state for the poor. Many Private allotment sites are still around, with proud histories. Some Private Allotments are being created new today, as we are doing here at Green Allotments on a non-profit basis.

In other words, “Private” just means the council does not provide the allotments on the site.

So where does the plot rent money go? This is THE most important question to ask when talking about Private allotments!

The answer is “it depends”:

Non-profit Private Allotments – This is what we do at Green Allotments: the money from rents goes straight back into the good of the allotment site. After running costs have been accounted for, any profit goes back into the running of the allotment site. This is what we at Green Allotments do. No profit is made. It is all about the good of society and helping the allotment community.

For-profit Private Allotments – the money from rents goes straight into the pocket of the person providing the allotments. After running costs, they get to keep all the profit and do what they want with it. We aren’t aware of anyone buying a private jet from the profits but they could if they wanted to.