Hands off our allotments

7 Aug 2025

Recent media reports have pointed out that Angela Rayner, in her role as Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has permitted the sell-off of eight allotment sites since coming into government.

We believe that one allotment sold, and lost from community use, is one too many. Do you agree?

A recent survey by the National Allotment Society reveals the overwhelming popularity of allotment gardening and the benefits it brings:

• 91% of respondents said they would recommend having an allotment.

• Respondents reported improvements in mental and physical health, stronger community connections, and better access to fresh, affordable food.

Allotments are an institution. They reflect our deep connection with the land. They give people the means and motivation to grow their own fruit and veg, enjoy the open air, be self-sufficient, and contribute to the local economy. They’re good for our physical and mental well-being.

There are more than 150,000 allotment applications with local authorities, and waits of up to 15 years are common.

The full picture of allotment sell-offs

Whilst it's worth noting that some of the sites sold have been replaced with alternative provision, it appears some have been lost for good. The number of sell-offs approved by Angela Rayner in 2024 is largely in-line with previous Conservative governments, who were rubber stamping disposal of 8-9 sites a year between 2020-2023. We think this should stop, regardless of which party is in power.

During the Covid-19 pandemic we were reminded of the importance of access to green spaces. The government should have a vision and a plan to provide MORE allotments, not take them away from us.

The fact is that austerity policies of the last 15 years have forced local councils to sell off assets to plug funding shortfalls. Flogging off the family silver is not a long-term solution and will leave us all worse off in the end.

Therefore we’re calling on the government to stop the sell-off of our precious allotments.

We have launched a petition to gather support for this call, which has already gained over 10,000 supporters. We hope the government will listen to the many voices committed to protecting our cherished green spaces.

You can sign the petition here https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/hands-off-our-allotments